Established in 2023 with the care and support from the relevant departments of the Ministry of Education, Food Flavor and Nutrition Health Innovation Center(Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education) is built upon BTBU’s existing provincial and ministerial platforms. The laboratory currently has 62 permanent members, including 15 national-level talents such as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, distinguished experts appointed by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, distinguished professors appointed under the Ministry of Education's Changjiang Scholars Program, and leading talents in scientific and technological innovation under the National "Ten Thousand Talents Program". Among them, 39 hold senior professional titles (professor-level), and 17 hold associate senior professional titles, with all 62 members holding doctoral degrees. In 2023, the Food Science and Engineering discipline, which serves as the foundation for the laboratory, was elevated to the A- level in the Fifth Round of Discipline Evaluation by the Ministry of Education. It also ranked 10th globally in the GRAS and entered the top 1‰ of the ESI Agricultural Sciences field.

Focusing on the world's frontiers and hot topics in geriatric nutrition and health research, guided by the goals of "ensuring national health as the foundation, addressing major scientific and technological needs as the direction, basing on innovative theoretical research, and centering on promoting industrial development," the laboratory targets major fundamental theoretical issues and key generic technologies in the field of active disease prevention, control, and nutritional intervention for the elderly population in China. Leveraging the disciplinary advantages of BTBU in food nutrition and human health, the laboratory has established three innovative research systems: 1. Molecular Mechanisms of Geriatric Health Biology; 2. Theories and Technologies for Precise Regulation of Geriatric Health and Nutrition; 3. Research on Key Engineering Technologies for Geriatric Health Functional Foods and Product Development.

Since its establishment, under the leadership of the Ministry of Education, with strong support from BTBU, and under the supervision and guidance of the Academic Committee, the laboratory has achieved remarkable results in scientific research, open communication, and talent cultivation. In 2023, the laboratory secured 51 new vertical research projects, including 27 national-level projects (such as Key Projects and Excellent Young Scientists Fund projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and projects under the National Key Research and Development Program) and 24 provincial/ministerial-level projects, with newly added contract funds totaling 60.8474 million RMB for vertical projects. Additionally, 71 new horizontal cooperation projects were established, with newly added contract funds totaling 37.9914 million RMB. The laboratory received 22 provincial/ministerial-level awards, including the Young Scientist Award in the Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Achievement Awards (Science and Technology) from the Ministry of Education and the Scientific Outreach Award in the Shennong Chinese Agricultural Science and Technology Awards from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. 118 SCI papers were published in international academic journals, with 112 in Q1/Q2 Top journals. A total of 50 patents were authorized, including one international invention patent. Furthermore, the laboratory participated in the formulation of 3 national/industry standards. In the future, the laboratory will leverage its research in geriatric nutrition and health as a focal point to vigorously advance the construction of double-first class disciplines at BTBU.