Summer Priority #1: Attend IFT FIRST

In the last year, I’ve had the privilege of representing IFT at events in South Africa, London, New York, and Japan, and have attended many others throughout my career. But there’s one event I look forward to every year that’s in a class of its own—IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo.

IFT FIRST has evolved and advanced just as much as our food system has since I attended for the first time as an eager grad student from the University of Minnesota. Whether you’re just starting your career, a veteran in the field, or somewhere in between, IFT FIRST is the place to be from Sunday to Wednesday, July 14–17, 2024.

Here’s why I am making it a priority to be at IFT FIRST in Chicago this summer—and you should too.

The Science. IFT’s mission is grounded so firmly in science it’s literally in the event’s name. FIRST stands for “Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology.” From the keynotes to the scientific and technical sessions and the research showcases, you’ll find science and technology deeply embedded in nearly every experience at IFT FIRST. That’s something you won’t find anywhere else.

The Innovation. Cutting-edge advancements are happening at a breakneck pace across the global food system. With more than 1,000 exhibitors and a variety of exciting programming right in the IFT FIRST Expo Hall, you can experience the future of food with all five senses here.

The Business. The business side of our food system is perpetually in motion. Between all the people you meet, leads you generate, potential suppliers you identify, customer relationships you deepen, and trends you learn at IFT FIRST, it will feel like you accomplished a year’s worth of strategic work in just a few days.

The People. There are incredible leaders, experts, suppliers, regulators, entrepreneurs, academics, and students across all disciplines of science and technology actively, effectively, and creatively working to address the complex challenges constantly coming our way. You will have the opportunity to hear from them, interact with them, and discuss ideas with them at IFT FIRST.

IFT FIRST will seamlessly blend deep science, business acumen, innovation, and collaboration to bring tomorrow’s possibilities to the forefront.

Sean Leighton

President, IFT

As you can see, the decision to attend IFT FIRST is an easy one. The difficult part is figuring out how to maximize your time while there and deciding which pair of shoes will provide optimal comfort and be trendy and cool.

Here are a few of this year’s must-attend experiences from my perspective.

1. Experts from Amazon, Nuritas, and Kellanova will kick things off Monday morning with an informative keynote in the IFT FIRST Theater on the transformative power of artificial intelligence. I’m excited to learn about the ways in which collaboration between humans and machines has unlocked the potential for groundbreaking advancements in the science of food.

2. I also can’t wait to hear about the future of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Foods Program during Tuesday’s keynote with FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones, and check out the scientific and technical forum sessions on food safety.

3. Exploring the Food Expo each day is a necessity. There are a lot of booths to visit, people to meet, and samples to try, so give yourself plenty of time.

4. As part of your Food Expo exploration, carve out time to check out the new kids on the block at the Startup Pavilion. Chat with these food or food-related startups and cheer them on twice daily as they participate in our speed pitch competition. It all culminates on Wednesday at The Pitch Finale, where finalists will compete for a chance to win up to $10,000 in prize money presented by Seeding The Future Foundation.

5. Another reason to stick around for Wednesday—the Innovation Lab. This immersive experience will take you on a captivating journey of creativity, science, and innovation to bring this year’s IFT FIRST theme—Collaboration + Innovation: How Can Food Science and Technology Transform the Food System?—to life.

IFT FIRST will seamlessly blend deep science, business acumen, innovation, and collaboration to bring tomorrow’s possibilities to the forefront and propel them forward with gusto. So bring an open mind, leave the distractions at the door, and come ready to engage in all that IFT FIRST has to offer. I look forward to seeing you there!ft