Building the Science Behind IFT FIRST

Every year, attendees come to IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo looking for insights that can help them navigate a rapidly changing food system. From emerging technologies and shifting regulations to evolving consumer expectations, the challenges facing food scientists rarely fit neatly within a single discipline.

Ensuring that the scientific program at IFT FIRST addresses that broad range of topics in a meaningful way is the work of the Annual Meeting Scientific Program Advisory Panel (AMSPAP).

“AMSPAP is an international group of individuals from academia, government, and industry with expertise across the broad spectrum of disciplines relevant to food science,” says AMSPAP Chair Matt Teegarden. “We consider member input, current trends and events, and the latest science when constructing the scientific program.”

Because AMSPAP brings together perspectives from across the food system, the resulting program is designed to reflect both emerging science and the challenges food professionals are facing in their day-to-day work.

From Emerging Topics to Scientific Programming

Each year, IFT invites food system professionals, past speakers, and other stakeholders to submit questions and topic ideas that help inform future programming. AMSPAP reviews that input alongside emerging scientific developments and industry trends when developing the scientific program.

“These focus areas naturally coalesced around IFT member input through the annual call for questions, as well as the experience of AMSPAP members,” says Teegarden. “Although many of these themes feel like mainstays for IFT FIRST, AMSPAP has been very purposeful in ensuring that the content itself builds on that of previous years. That way, we deliver the latest and greatest across themes that continue to be important to food scientists.”

This year’s scientific program is organized around five focus areas:

• Workforce Development
• Novel Technology
• Policy and Regulation
• Consumer Trust and Communication
• Sustainability and Climate Resilience

Taken together, these focus areas address some of the most pressing questions facing the profession today—from preparing the next generation of food scientists for a digitally transformed workplace to navigating evolving regulatory expectations and rebuilding consumer trust in science-based decision-making.

Several of this year’s Scientific & Technical Forums illustrate that approach. One forum explores the competencies and training models needed to prepare future food scientists for the impact of digital transformation. Another examines evidence-based communication strategies for countering misinformation and building trust. A third looks at the regulatory pathways and innovations needed to accelerate emerging technologies in global food innovation.

By design, Scientific & Technical Forums bring together experts from multiple disciplines to examine complex issues from a range of perspectives. That multidisciplinary approach helps attendees better understand how scientific, regulatory, business, and societal factors intersect across the food system.

Connecting Food Science to the Broader Food System

That same philosophy extends throughout IFT FIRST.

“A huge strength of IFT FIRST is that members have multiple opportunities to influence the scientific program, so when AMSPAP deliberates on topics and sessions, we have signals on what priorities exist within the community,” says Teegarden. “AMSPAP also aims to break down silos and bring in perspectives from other food system disciplines.”

The result is a program designed not only to deepen technical expertise but also to help attendees understand the broader implications of their work.

“As a result, IFT FIRST is a place where attendees can gain deep technical knowledge within food science but also build their understanding of how their work connects to the wider food system,” Teegarden says.

That philosophy is reflected not only in the program itself, but also in how the event is designed. This year, scientific programming—including keynotes, Scientific & Technical Forums, individual presentations, and more—will take place in the Expo Hall rather than in a separate area of the convention center. The change reflects IFT’s commitment to bringing scientific discovery, technology, and business conversations into closer proximity, reinforcing the connections between research, innovation, and real-world application.

That perspective has become increasingly important as food scientists navigate issues that span multiple domains, from artificial intelligence and workforce transformation to climate resilience, public policy, and consumer trust.

A Program That Continues to Evolve

While AMSPAP’s mission remains consistent, the program itself continues to evolve.

“As always, we worked to create a program that elevates emerging science, new technology, and the current landscape of the food system, while also being very deliberate about building continuity from prior years when appropriate,” says Teegarden. “This year, AMSPAP worked closely with IFT staff to group technical sessions and presentations into focused themes in an effort to further enhance the attendee experience.”

The thematic structure makes it easier for attendees to follow issues across multiple sessions and disciplines rather than encountering them as isolated topics. It also helps attendees identify content that aligns with their interests while encouraging exploration of adjacent areas that may influence their work.

For Teegarden, who will be attending IFT FIRST for the 13th time, the value of the event remains clear.

“There is no other event like IFT FIRST,” he says. “The breadth and depth of the scientific program, in addition to the Expo, professional development sessions, and other showcases makes it a truly unique experience for food scientists and other professionals working in the food system.”

“I keep coming back because I always leave with new insights, new connections, and a sharpened perspective on how my work as a food scientist impacts the broader food system.”

Ready to experience the program AMSPAP helped create? Explore this year’s scientific program and register for IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo.

Interested in helping shape future programming? Learn more about volunteer opportunities through IFT's Call for Volunteers, which opens on July 1.