The Promise of a New Decade

There is always so much excitement leading up to our Annual Event and Food Expo. Once it’s done, we are in the heart of summer. I must have blinked because somehow, it’s October, and the prevalence of some of my favorite flavors—pumpkin spice, apple cider, and salted caramel—can’t be missed. I enjoy the cooler weather, and I must admit I have football fever.

Although the calendar year is winding down, IFT is already two months into its fiscal year and is off and running toward our mission—to advance the science of food and its application across the global food system. In August, I had the chance to visit our headquarters in Chicago to meet with IFT Past President Cindy Stewart, IFT Immediate Past President Michele Perchonok, IFT President-Elect Noel Anderson, IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean, and several staff members to plan for the coming year. To say there are some exciting things in store is an understatement. 

We also recently assembled key volunteer leaders for our annual Virtual Volunteer Leadership Summit. I am always energized when I get to spend time with our volunteer leaders, who selflessly give so much of their time and talent to this organization. It is abundantly clear that our volunteer leaders maintain a keen focus on our mission and strategic promises based on some of the stories that they shared. It’s no wonder we continue to accomplish so much with such a passionate group tackling topics that matter most to our industry.

Looking forward, we not only have a new year, but a new decade upon us—the year 2020. Much can change in 10 years, and each new decade brings with it a clean slate and a fresh perspective. It also presents an excellent opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, celebrate our successes, evaluate any shortcomings, and refine our plan for the future. As an organization, we are in the process of doing that in several areas.

First, we are taking the opportunity to revitalize our strategic plan. Originally developed in 2014 and fine-tuned annually, IFT’s strategic plan has served us well, providing a roadmap for the organization to advance the science of food. While we continue to make progress, it’s time to examine our plan more deeply and make sure it positions us well to address the evolving needs of our industry, our members, and the consumers we serve. We will be sure to keep you informed as the revitalization of our strategic plan progresses.

We also continue increasing our focus on creating an environment in which diversity, inclusion, and equity are universally valued as essential to advancing the science of food. Creating a culture of inclusion has the potential to break down barriers and unlock limitless innovation. We have made significant strides in embracing and embodying these principles in our sections, divisions, committees, and workgroups, but there is still much work to be done. Our Inclusive Systems Taskforce is continuing to look at ways to ensure our practices, systems, and people are welcoming and inclusive to all. When we find roadblocks that hamper our inclusiveness efforts, it is a priority to address them. 

In addition, as I write this, we are putting the finishing touches on our dynamic, redesigned website. The enhanced website features a sleek, modern design, and puts the quality content we collectively produce right at your fingertips, regardless of what type of device you are on. I can assure you it not only looks fantastic but is so much easier to find the information you are looking for. We are thrilled to have this resource available for our members.

We are also in the throes of planning for IFT’s Annual Event and Food Expo, which returns to Chicago for the first of 10 consecutive years in July 2020. We are taking this change in venue as an opportunity to build on the event’s positive track record and increase its value for attendees, exhibitors, and new extended audiences that have an impact on the science of food. As we reimagine the event, we aim to build an irresistible and indispensable strategic experience you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned for more details on this. It’s going to be amazing.

We must evolve and change as an organization if we are going to continue to stay relevant and help food scientists and technologists address the significant challenges the global food industry faces in the next decade. We are hard at work, but if there are things you think we should consider or you have feedback in a particular area, please reach out. We welcome your input. 

It’s an exciting and pivotal time for IFT and the science of food. I’m so glad you are on this journey with us.