Our Words Matter

I was fortunate to be in the audience when my predecessor, Dr. John Coupland, recently addressed the IFT staff, marking the end of his year as president. He presented the history of IFT, its early founders, what motivated them to launch the organization, and what kept them engaged in the community.

The history is fascinating. We learned that nearly 80 years ago the founders of IFT agonized over what to call our organization. Even then, they were debating the word “technologists” and wondering aloud if it was an inclusive term and whether it would stand the test of time. Nearly 80 years later we are still debating this point.

Three years ago, the IFT Board of Directors, like many boards before us, embarked on a strategic planning process that would chart a clear and intentional course for IFT. Woven into the revised vision, mission, and member promises was a subtle but important selection of words. In many instances, we began referring to our community as professionals in the “science of food.”

This was a deliberate change and one about which there was robust debate, compelling argument, and ultimately consensus among the board you elected to guide our organization into the future.

Were we an institute of food technologists as our name implied? And if so, what was the definition of a “food technologist” at this time? How could we honor and support the discrete course of study and profession that is “food science”—the heart of our organization? Importantly, without expanding on the sphere of our community by sending a clear signal of cross-disciplinary inclusion, could we ever fully realize IFT’s vision of a world where science and innovation are universally accepted as essential to a safe, nutritious, and sustainable food supply for everyone?

We answered these questions with an insistence on a full panoramic view of our organization, leveraging hindsight, insight, and foresight to understand our past, present, and future. Data, trends, and research played important roles. But in a nod to the future, it is noteworthy that the seed for “science of food” was planted by Jay Gilbert, president of the IFT Student Association at that time, who was an active participant in this strategic planning process. From that seed, many passionate discussions grew about how the words we use can signal the inclusion that we aim to achieve and the future we want for IFT. And so was born a mission: to advance the science of food and its application across the global food system.

One truism that we know about inclusion is that words matter. We see this where we work, live, shop, and in our schools and public institutions. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, recently sent a letter to all employees addressing a recent crisis of gender inclusion at the company and across the technology sector. Its subject line: Our words matter. Meanwhile, across the globe we see public dialogue on policy and culture where carelessly and carefully chosen words can fan flames, ease tensions, hurt, and heal.

IFT is an important and inclusive global institution and our mission and vision are increasingly vital to society. We therefore have an imperative to speak clearly to our core values of community, integrity, passion, progress, and respect. In so doing, our words matter.

Actions matter too. This month will mark the launch of IFT’s new membership model, which was extensively researched and overwhelmingly approved by IFT members. This new model provides an avenue of access to a new population of professionals who told us that they felt excluded by the less flexible model that we will be retiring. The names of these membership options were also carefully chosen, as were the benefits of each. The clear choice for those of us who have been members and professional members is Premier Membership. This is membership designed for members of our profession, at any stage of their career, who are and want to be leaders. It is optimized for those of us who want and need to be connected, informed innovators in our respective fields. Additionally, the Networking and Engagement level of membership will enable many newcomers to join our community. They will bring new richness to a community powered by an engine of innovation that is fueled by ideas and diverse perspectives.

Throughout this year I’ll be exploring the ideas around inclusion. I hope you’ll join me in this conversation by meeting me at the virtual table—via the IFT Connect “Inclusion” discussion—to share your thoughts and ideas. Your words matter.

Cindy Stewart, PhD, CFS
IFT President, 2017–2018
Global Cultures and Food Protection Technology & Innovation Leader, DuPont Nutrition & Health,
Wilmington, Del.
[email protected]