Institute of Food Technologists to Honor Top Achievements in Food Science at IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo

CHICAGO – May 4, 2026 – The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, will honor this year’s recipients of its prestigious IFT Achievement Awards as well as induct the 2026 Class of IFT Fellows at IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo. The IFT Fellows and Achievement Awards Reception and Ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, July 12, from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. CT in the S100 Ballroom at McCormick Place in Chicago, provides the food science community with a rare opportunity to join their peers in celebrating the leaders, innovators, and visionaries shaping the global food system.

IFT Fellows is the highest honor bestowed by IFT as a new class is elected every year, recognizing members for their significant and sustained contributions to the field and the IFT organization. Each nominated Fellow is evaluated based on professional leadership, service and leadership, ongoing volunteer service to IFT, honors and recognition, as well as advancements to the science of food. No more than 10 Fellows are selected each year. The program launched in 1970 and there are more than 700 Fellows to date.

Meanwhile, winning an IFT Achievement Award is considered one of the highest honors a food science community member can receive. Each Achievement Award winner receives up to a $5,000 honorarium and a crystal award from IFT.

“We are honored to recognize this year’s IFT Fellows and Achievement Award recipients, leaders whose contributions have had a lasting impact on the science of food and the global food system,” said IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean. “IFT FIRST provides an opportunity for the food science community to come together to celebrate the influence of these visionaries as well as their lifelong commitment to helping tackle some of the world’s biggest food challenges.”

Here is the list of Fellows and Achievement Award Recipients:

2026 Fellows

• Valente Alvarez, PhD: Professor, Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
• Adelia Bovell-Benjamin, PhD, CFS: Professor, Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama)
• Roman Buckow, PhD: Professor, La Trobe University (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
• Sarah Kirkmeyer, PhD, MBA, CFS: Professor, Pennsylvania State University (College Park, Pennsylvania) and Senior Manager, The Kroger Company
• Xiaonan Lu, PhD: Professor, Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
• Olive Yao Li, PhD: Professor, California State Polytechnic University – Pomona
• Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, PhD: Professor, South Dakota State University (Brookings, South Dakota)
• Cristina Sabliov, PhD: Professor, Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
• Justin Shimek, PhD: CEO and Chairman, Mattson & Co Inc. (Foster City, California)
• Marcia Walker, PhD: Director, Oregon State University (Corvallis, Oregon)

2026 Achievement Award Recipients

Distinguished Career Award in honor of Carl R. Fellers, PhD (Awarded in partnership with Phi Tau Sigma)

• Jianping Wu, PhD, Professor, University of Alberta

Distinguished Lipid and Flavor Science Award in honor of Stephen S. Chang

• David Julian McClements, PhD, Distinguished Professor, University of Massachusetts

Food Packaging Award in honor of Don Riester, Rees Davis, and Aaron Brody (Awarded in partnership with IFT’s Food Packaging Division)

• Shyam Sablani, PhD, Professor, Washington State University (Pullman, Washington)

Include Award in honor of George Washington Carver

• Tamanna Ramesh, MS, MBA, Founder, Spark Academy and FSOP Customer Commercialization Integration Lead, The Coca-Cola Company

Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of Nicolas Appert (Awarded in partnership with Chicago Section IFT)

• Rui Hai Liu, PhD, Professor, Cornell University (Ithaca, New York)

Outstanding Young Scientist Award in honor of Samuel Cate Prescott

• Abigail Snyder, PhD, Associate Professor, Cornell University (Ithaca, New York)

Research & Development Award

Team Leaders:

• Diana Maya, MSc, MBA, Regional Market Development Manager, Kuraray America Inc.
• Edgard Chow, Director, TS&D, Kuraray America Inc.

Key Contributors:

• Juming Tang, PhD, Professor, Washington State University (Pullman, Washington)
• Louise Wicker, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Korea University (Seoul, Korea)
• Shyam Sablani, PhD, Professor, Washington State University (Pullman, Washington)

Collaborative Research Grant in honor of Marcel Loncin

• Pu Jing, PhD, Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China)

Sensory & Consumer Sciences Achievement Award (Awarded in partnership with IFT’s Sensory and Consumer Sciences Division)

• Edgar Chambers IV, PhD, Distinguished Professor, Kansas State University (Manhattan, Kansas)

To learn more, go to ift.org.

About IFT FIRST

IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo is one of the most influential food technology events in the world as it unites instrumental leaders across the global food system to help shape the future of food. Each year, IFT FIRST (Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology) convenes prominent food, health, and nutrition professionals across industry, academia, and government to collaborate, innovate, and educate. IFT FIRST features a dynamic expo hall that connects many of the top global food and wellness companies with buyers and those with purchasing influence, while also offering cutting-edge scientific programming that explores the hottest topics across the science of food. IFT FIRST also offers valuable networking opportunities, unique food competitions, and engaging interactive experiences to connect, enrich, and empower attendees in their missions to transform the global food system. For more information, go to ift.org/ift-first-event.  

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.