IFT CoDeveloper’s Jay Gilbert to Co-Lead AI Innovation Lab Workshop at Future Food-Tech

SAN FRANCISCO – March 11, 2026 – The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific association committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, is excited to share that Jay Gilbert, PhD, IFT Director, CoDeveloper and Digital Products, will co-lead an AI Innovation Lab Workshop at Future Food-Tech San Francisco on Friday, March 20, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. PDT. The immersive session will show how AI is driving real impact across the food system—from faster product development to smarter operations. The workshop will focus on three key areas:

• Real-world AI success stories across product development, operations, and supply chains
• Live AI product demos showcasing tools accelerating formulation, insight generation, and decision-making
• Campfire-style breakout sessions where groups develop and present practical AI use cases, including benefits and risks

“AI has the potential to dramatically accelerate product development, from blue sky ideation to overcoming technical challenges. When AI is grounded in expert-vetted science, it becomes a force multiplier. It doesn’t just provide faster answers, but more reliable ones that helps teams grow,” said Gilbert.

As part of his responsibilities at IFT, Gilbert oversees CoDeveloper, IFT’s proprietary AI-powered R&D platform. CoDeveloper delivers science into the product development process, accelerating formula development and overcoming technical roadblocks. Built by IFT’s team of food scientists, it harnesses the computing speed of AI to connect users to IFT’s 85-plus years of peer-reviewed research and published content while they’re developing market-competitive products.

Since its public unveiling at IFT FIRST 2025, hundreds of companies have seen the power of how CoDeveloper can support their teams by accelerating their development through science. To learn more about CoDeveloper, go to codeveloper.ift.org.

IFT members receive discounted pricing for CoDeveloper. To learn more about becoming a member of IFT and joining the world’s most impactful food science community, go to Become a Member.

Additional AI content:

• Artificial Intelligence Tools Get Smarter (Food Technology magazine)
• Riding the AI Wave (Omnivore podcast)
• AI and the Future of Food Innovation (Brain Food Blog)
• Artificial intelligence and food flavor: How AI models are shaping the future and revolutionary technologies for flavor food development (Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety)

IFT’s Journal of Food Science also has a call for papers open for a new special issue on artificial intelligence in food science and nutrition. Submission deadline is March 31, 2026. The first paper from Brazilian researchers Wagner Augusto Muller, Sandro Binsfeld Ferreira and Suse Botelho da Silva on “Enhancing Food Safety in the Cold Chain Through Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence” was recently published, which provides a comprehensive resource for selecting IoT and AI systems to enhance food safety and ensure a more resilient, transparent, and sustainable cold chain.

About Institute of Food Technologists

Since 1939, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has served as the voice of the global food science community. IFT advocates for science, technology, and research to address the world’s greatest food challenges, guiding our community of more than 200,000. IFT convenes professionals from around the world – from producers and product developers to innovators and researchers across food, nutrition, and public health – with a shared mission to help create a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. IFT provides its growing community spanning academia, industry, and government with the resources, connections, and opportunities necessary to stay ahead of a rapidly evolving food system as IFT helps feed the minds that feed the world. For more information, please visit ift.org.