Food forward

Professionals in the global food industry are under constant pressure to do better. With constant challenges bearing down on them—climate change, supply-chain interruptions, labor shortages, and inflation, just to name a few—leaders looking to conquer these obstacles and avoid future headaches are keen to find forward-thinking solutions. IFT First, the annual event produced by the Institute of Food Technologists and scheduled July 14–17 in Chicago, strives to address these myriad problems by bringing the brightest minds of the field together.

“We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to conquer the many challenges facing our food system today and in the future,” remarks IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean. “Representing key regulatory agencies, disruptive consumer and B2B businesses, and innovative initiatives, the keynoters and speakers at IFT First are at the cutting-edge of several facets of our global food system. IFT is excited to welcome these leaders to our event so they can share their indispensable knowledge, insights, and ideas with the IFT community.”

Innovation on display
The IFT First exposition floor features more than 1,000 exhibits from leading suppliers and organizations, showcasing their latest products, technology solutions, and services. The expansive convention center floor is sectioned off into specialized pavilions to help attendees make the most of their limited time at the event. The Agriculture Pavilion centers on farming and agricultural concerns; the new Co-manufacturers Pavilion aims to bring co-manufacturing partners together to develop potential opportunities. Also, the Organics Pavilion offers a chance to connect with ingredient suppliers and other businesses with organic offerings.

Then, in the Startup Pavilion, the expo floor offers a special space for new and emerging organizations. In this section, 100 food firms and food-tech businesses at various stages of development will be on hand to showcase their innovative solutions and applications. Participants in this pavilion are eligible for a $10,000 prize, courtesy of the Seeding the Future Foundation—each hopeful company will get a chance to pitch their idea to a panel of judges, who will decide upon the winning concept.

Science and solutions
The IFT First agenda features a number of keynote presentations and focused sessions aimed at elevating current food industry practices and improving the future of the field. For example, the Monday morning keynote, titled Revolutionizing Food Innovation Through AI, explores potential ways to harness the power of artificial intelligence to help create innovation throughout the food value chain. Speakers include:

• Justin Honaman, head of worldwide retail and consumer goods Go-To-Market, Amazon/Amazon Web Services
• Nora Khaldi, founder and CEO, Nuritas; and member of the World Economic Forum of Young Global Leaders
• Ramesh Kollepara, vice president and global chief technology officer, Kellanova

Other presentations offer in-depth looks into the evolution of the FDA, cutting-edge food technologies, ultra-processed foods, nutritional security, and more.

Power in products
Product development is not an easy task—sometimes the effort takes the input of people with myriad different backgrounds and perspectives. The IFT First Innovation Lab is a show feature designed to help participants put their skills and talents to the test, while also expanding their horizons. With the 2024 theme of “Collaboration + Innovation: How Can Food Science and Technology Transform the Food System?” teams moving through the Innovation Lab will tackle five challenge stations:

• Health and nutrition: ensuring creation of food products that taste good but meet diverse dietary needs
• Sustainability: incorporating sustainable sourcing, production, and packaging features
• Consumer insights: understanding both the expressed and unspoken needs of consumers to create products that resonate
• Novel tech: harnessing advanced technology to optimize products
• Food safety: building in safety and reliability to innovative products

Betting on business
The Business First sessions presented during IFT First are geared toward helping startups, investors, and other stakeholders sit in on informative, lively discussions on different topics with the potential to impact the future of food. Some of the Business First topics currently on tap include:

Future-Proofing Ingredient Supply Chains Against Climate Change

Things like extreme weather, temperature fluctuations, and water scarcity are having dramatic impacts on everything from the quality of products, to the availability of commodities and the price of ingredients. This session will offer strategies for navigating ingredient sourcing in the face of climate change.

Seizing Career Opportunities in an Evolving Workplace

Knowing what employers want can help prepare food professionals for a better career. During this session, a panel of experts will offer a look at must-have skill sets, changing demographics, and highlights from the 2024 IFT Employment and Salary Survey.

Preparing for Generation Alpha

Speaking of changing demographics: while those born between 2010 and now are not quite ready to enter the workforce, now is a good time to start discussing what the working world might look like (and what these young professionals might want and need) for future success.

How Rising Food Prices Create Challenges—and Opportunities

U.S. consumers and food companies alike are vexed by skyrocketing costs, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for producers who can help provide solutions such as smaller packages, reduced portion sizes, and other measures.

Feeding the world
Much of the programming at IFT First centers around applying technology in the development of products and processes that improve access to and the quality of food for people around the world. A competition produced by the IFT Student Association (IFTSA) backs the Developing Solutions for Developing Countries product development competition. In June, the body announced the six finalist teams who came up with the most promising solutions aimed at improving the quality of life for residents of developing countries; then, the six will pitch their projects at IFT First in Chicago.

“In light of record-level inflation and escalating import taxes, it is critical for developing countries to lean into food innovations that leverage locally sourced ingredients to meet the needs of their growing populations,” says Christina Ginardi, IFT’s director of academic engagement. “The six food creations from these brilliant teams of student innovators exemplify the important role science and technology must play in addressing these important issues.

Last year, IPB University in Indonesia won for Newbies (Drasties), a smoothie produced using local ingredients such as dragon fruit to help local Indonesian producers and keep prices affordable. This year, the six teams hail from multiple countries, with two teams from Indonesia, two from Costa Rica, one from Malaysia, and another from Canada.

Networking and fun
The IFT First agenda features a number of opportunities to connect with other industry professionals, whether attendees are looking to forge potential business partnerships or just discuss common challenges. The Braindate program puts together one-on-one or small group conversations centered around a topic that the participants wish to discuss. Registrants are invited to sign up before arriving in Chicago to create a profile and browse potential topics. Then, once at McCormick Place, participants are connected with their fellow Braindate participants to put their heads together.

Additionally, IFT First offers a Professional Networking Event for attendees looking to gather with professionals around topics like food packaging, biotechnology, functional foods, refrigerated and frozen products, and more. There is a $75 fee to access all the content and socials.

Then, for IFT First attendees with energy to spare, the organization offers the Feeding Tomorrow Fun Run and Walk fundraiser. Taking place bright and early on Tuesday, July 16, participants are invited to lace up their favorite pair of sneakers, then join their fellow foodies for a brisk 5K run or a casual 1-mile walk. Registration fees support IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund, a resource designed to support the next generation of food scientists and ensure bright, talented new minds continue entering the field.

For more information about IFT First or to register, visit IFTevent.org. SF&WB