The second international symposium on Pectins and Pectinases was organised by Wageningen University and Research Centre and was held in Rotterdam, May 6-10, 2001. This fruitful meeting was attended by around 130 participants from more than 20 countries, representing almost all of the groups/industries working worldwide on pectins and pectinases. Following the first meeting on this subject held in December 1995, the symposium definitely forms a platform for researchers and industries working in the field, all within their own discipline and expertise. The symposium book contains most keynote lectures and other oral presentations and provides an update about the current research. It is clearly demonstrated that significant progress has been made during the past seven years. The progress in the elucidation of the chemical structure of pectin and mode of action and 3-D structure of the pectin-degrading enzymes allows us more and more to identify (and influence) the functionality of pectins and pectic enzymes, both in vitro after isolation as well as in the plants themselves (in planta). Other contributions deal with new applications of both pectin and pectin-degrading enzymes, while more and more attention is paid to health and nutritional aspects of pectins. The book provides a state-of-the-art account for both beginners and experienced researchers in almost all disciplines of pectin research.