A Year of Tremendous Growth

Serving as IFT president and working with the IFT Board of Directors, CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean, volunteers, and staff to promote and advance the science of food has been a highlight of my career. You would be hard-pressed to find a more talented group of hardworking individuals who share a passion for making an impact on the global food system. Their dedication, leadership, and willingness to serve are truly beyond compare.

Maintaining a focus on seeking thoughtful, strategic, and innovative ways to address the current and future needs of science of food professionals has yielded remarkable results this year.

One of the year’s most exciting and visible accomplishments was the spectacular return of IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo. I don’t think we’ll ever take for granted the energy and benefits of in-person events again. Last year was great, but this year was off the charts!

The growth in attendee and exhibitor participation at IFT FIRST, combined with new and innovative programming, delivered an inte-grated event experience appealing to business and science professionals alike. I was especially pleased to see the flurry of activity in the Startup Pavilion, where the future of food was truly on full display, and to meet the winner of $15,000 in cash prizes at The Pitch, which was presented by the Seeding The Future Found-ation. The myriad of networking opportunities provided intentional and serendipitous ways to connect with colleagues and make new acquaintances. The Innovation Lab provided a unique way to bring the entire experience together and put some of our new knowledge to work addressing real-life challenges. And those are just a few highlights! The planning and work that goes into an event of this magnitude is immense, and it was thrilling to see it come together with such high impact.

IFT has also demonstrated tremendous growth in our presence in national and international media, forums, and events. In the first half of 2023 alone, IFT was featured in nearly 400 articles. Seventy-five of those were in major media outlets, such as Forbes, National Geographic, The Washington Post, the Daily Mail, and NPR. IFT’s Science and Policy Initiatives team remained active and engaged in legislative and policy advocacy on behalf of our community, and IFT’s Global Food Traceability Center continued to make an impact on the traceability front. Elevating the people and important work happening within IFT and our community is critical to position IFT strongly for future growth and vital to the broader food industry worldwide.

We also opened IFT’s Concierge Service to all food and beverage companies, enabling more teams to benefit from the support of our technical concierge. We launched a brand-new Product Development Bootcamp online course designed to equip employees to excel in today’s competitive product development environment. We introduced two additional identity-based member resource groups, one dedicated to serving the LGBTQIA+ community and another for people who have been working in the field for fewer than 10 years. And the list goes on.

Despite our efforts, the food system continues to find itself under threat. As the second international president in IFT’s 84-year history, I can’t stress enough the importance of thinking strategically, acting globally, and leading boldly as we tackle the challenges we face. We work in a global food system. We have an opportunity and responsibility to work together to ensure people around the world have access to safe, nutritious, sustainable food. It will take innovation, transformative change, and our collective resolve. But, if we maintain our focus, continue to amplify our voice around the world, and bring even more knowledgeable and inspired researchers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, government representatives, and aspiring science of food leaders from around the globe together, we will get there.

I look forward to working with Sean Leighton, who will assume the role of president on September 1, 2023. As a former IFT Student Association member and a senior leader with global responsibilities and a strategic focus who engages people warmly, I know he will partner with the talented board, staff, and membership to build on the tremendous growth and momentum we’ve enjoyed this year.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your president.