Baking & Snack - April 2022 - 77

SPECIAL REPORT
Meeting Preview
Transformation
Through Food
by Charlotte Atchley
A
After two years of virtual events, the Institute of Food
Technologists (IFT) brings the food science community
back together in-person with its newly rebranded annual
meeting and expo, IFT FIRST: Annual Event & Expo.
The event will take place July 10-13 at McCormick Place
in Chicago. FIRST will be a hybrid event with online features.
IFT expects 18,000 people to attend the event with
nearly 2,000 exhibitors at the expo.
" After shifting the IFT annual event and expo online
for the last two years, IFT will welcome the science of
food community back to Chicago this July with a dynamic
and highly engaging in-person experience unlike
any prior event, " said Christie Tarantino-Dean,
chief executive officer of IFT. " This year, IFT FIRST attendees
can expect a fully integrated experience with
reimagined scientific programming, discussions focused
on the business behind food and the future of food, as
well as exciting networking and engagement activities.
Additionally, the event will feature both live and virtual
offerings to ensure that travel or other limitations do not
prevent attendees from being able to connect, learn and
innovate. "
IFT continues its commitment to science as a path
forward to sustainable food with this year's event theme,
which is Hacking the Food Supply: Can We Synthesize
a More Sustainable Future? The theme falls in line with
IFT's mission in rebranding the event as FIRST: Food
Improved by Research, Science and Technology, which
gets to the transformative power the organization believes
the global food system can have on the world. This
year's theme will be addressed through the following
topics: novel technology and innovation, sustainability,
health and nutrition, food safety, and consumer insights
and education.
The education programming will be divided into
two tracks: Science FIRST and Business FIRST. Science
FIRST will feature live panels, keynotes, fireside chats
and moderated discussions as well as on-demand scientific
sessions and research presentations through the IFT
FIRST online platform. Through the Business FIRST
education program attendees can gain helpful tips and
strategies for startups, investors and large companies.
Topics will include food waste, supply chain impacts and
IFT's recent salary survey research and a discussion on
what that data means for equity. Select sessions in both
tracks will be livestreamed online.
On the expo floor, attendees can take advantage not
only of the new ingredients and solutions on display but
also the Startup Pavilion where consultants and entrepreneurs
will network.
To ensure the health and safety of in-person attendees
and exhibitors, IFT is partnering with Epistemix to
determine the necessary protocols to implement at the
event based on expected attendee risk levels. To keep up
with the latest safety protocols in place, visit IFT's website
at www.iftevent.org/register/health-and-safety. For
more information on how to register for the event, visit
www.iftevent.org/register/registration.
www.bakingbusiness.com / April 2022 Baking & Snack 77
IFT FIRST 2022 will
host in-person
networking, sessions
and an expo floor in
Chicago as well as
virtual elements.
©Tierney - stock.adobe.com
IFT reunites the food science community in-person
at its re-branded FIRST: Annual Event & Expo.
http://www.bakingbusiness.com
Baking & Snack - April 2022

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