IFT FIRST Pre-event Workshops Will Dive into AI in Food Innovation, GRAS and Product Development, and Shelf-Life Best Practices
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization with global members spanning academia, government, and industry, has unveiled its pre-event educational workshops that will officially kick-off IFT FIRST: Expo and Event, which is being held July 14-17, 2024, at McCormick Place in Chicago. The workshops, formerly known as short courses, will be held July 13-14 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
Registrants will receive workshop materials and a workshop certificate worth 14 credit hours.
“The pre-event workshops were created to provide the science of food community with the resources and skills to advance their career as well as provide them with the tools and knowledge to help them in the workplace,” said IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean. “Attendees not only get to learn from top subject-matter experts sharing their cutting-edge research insights while also participating in hands-on practical sessions, but they also have the unique opportunity to network with other workshop attendees to foster the collaboration that helps drive innovation, aligning with this year’s theme.”
Here is a summary of this year’s pre-event workshops:
A Simplified Approach to Shelf-Life of Intermediate and Low Moisture Foods
Many companies face challenges correctly identifying a product’s best-by date, often resulting in food waste. Shelf-life testing can be difficult as well as a resource drain, causing many companies to delay or avoid attempts at measuring shelf-life. During this workshop, instructors will introduce the Shelf-Life Simplified Paradigm, provide examples of how to set up an accelerated shelf-life study, and provide instruction on how water activity controls microbial spoilage as well as how to prevent and model moisture migration. Presenters will be Brady Carter, Senior Scientist, Carter Scientific Solutions; Lisa Mauer, Professor and Associate Vice Provost, Purdue University; and Michelle Richardson, Senior Food Scientist, Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center.
Certified Food Scientist (CFS) Preparatory Workshop
This optional workshop is designed to help people considering or preparing to take the Certified Food Scientist exam to earn the CFS credential. A crash course in all eight content areas (sensory evaluation and consumer testing, food microbiology, food safety, food engineering, food chemistry and food analysis, quality assurance and quality control, regulatory, and product development), the workshop unites experts from academia and industry to address key topics and concepts in their respective areas.
Presenters include Amy Lammert, Associate Professor, California Polytechnic State University; John Budin, Vice President, Product Safety and Quality, FONA International; Judy Lindsey, R&D Director, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery; Kathiravan Krishnamurthy, Assistant Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology; and Matthew Thomas Taylor, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University.
Food Science for the Non-Food Scientist
Participants will learn the basic principles of food science in one of IFT’s most popular workshops. Learners will enhance their understanding of the role of food science in the development of food products, as well as gain a better understanding of the importance of food safety, basic regulatory issues, and food science trends. Gordon Smith, retired Kansas State University professor; Marie Wright, President, Creation, Design & Development and Chief Global Flavorist, ADM; Kantha Shelke, Principal, Corvus Blue LLC; and Elizabeth Suter, Director, Sensory Spectrum will serve as presenters.
Exploring Artificial Intelligence for Next-Level Food Innovation
This interactive workshop will provide the science of food community with a deep understanding of artificial intelligence through hands-on exercises, industry use cases, and insights from AI thought leaders. In partnership with Sidecar, this workshop offers a real-world experience of AI applications, allowing participants to see the immediate value of integrating such technology into their daily routines. Presenters will be Thomas Altman and Dray McFarlane, Co-founders, Tasio.
Understanding GRAS and Product Development
This workshop will help product developers and regulatory professionals unravel the complexities of GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) determinations and the notifications process. The immersive experience will walk attendees through the nuances surrounding GRAS determinations and provide a profound understanding of its pivotal role in the food ingredient innovation process. Presenters will include Kaiping Deng, Regulatory Review Scientist/Microbiology Reviewer, Food and Drug Administration/Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition; and Steven Gendel, Principal, Gendel Food Safety LLC.
At IFT FIRST, more than 17,000 attendees from around the world will have the opportunity to experience the largest global food science and innovation expo with more than 1,000 exhibitors offering the latest in ingredients, food and food tech trends, food tastings, and exposure to global innovations in food. Another key highlight will be the more than 100 Science FIRST sessions and multi-disciplinary discussions focused on groundbreaking scientific research and solutions in novel technology and innovation, health and nutrition, sustainability and climate, food safety, and consumer insights.