Highlights from the 2024 IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo

With more than 16,000 attendees, 1,000+ exhibitors, and hundreds of scientific learning opportunities, the IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo that took place in Chicago in July was a not-to-be-missed experience. Below are some of the highlights from the live reporting by Food Technology editors during event.

AI Drives New Era in Food and Beverage: Experts at Monday’s IFT FIRST keynote panel agreed that artificial intelligence is and will continue to be a transformative force reshaping the science of food industry.

Ultra-Processed Foods Researchers Call for Collaboration: IFT FIRST session panelists underscored the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms by which ultra-processed foods affect health.

Coming Together to Feed a Fragile, Growing World: Partnerships among academia, industry, and non-profits are needed to find sustainable solutions.

Seeding the Future Winners Work to Redesign Food Systems: Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge winners pitched their diverse sustainable projects at IFT FIRST, including innovations like regenerative farming, nutrient-rich crops, culturally relevant foods, and solar-powered storage technologies.

How Partnerships Help Advance Novel Technologies: Collaboration and effective communication must go hand-in-hand with innovation to allow cutting-edge companies to establish a market presence.

Advancing Healthy Equity and Nutrition Security: Panelists at an IFT FIRST featured session on Tuesday, July 16, shared how collaboration among governments, businesses, and researchers can leverage food science to promote equitable and sustainable nutrition solutions.

FDA Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones Addresses Food Safety, Innovation: In an energetic IFT FIRST keynote address on Tuesday morning, Jim Jones, deputy commissioner of Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), highlighted the agency's commitment to integrating innovation and technology into federal food safety regulation and policy.

Scentian Bio Wins IFT FIRST Pitch Competition: Scentian Bio, a technology company that combines insect biology with nanotechnology in sensor devices, took the top spot and a prize of $10,000 at The Pitch competition during IFT FIRST.

Exploring the Science Behind Creation: IFT FIRST Innovation Lab offered food scientists a tutorial in the demands of product development.

Food Companies Must Innovate Amid Inflation Pressures: Faced with the ongoing impact of inflation on consumers’ wallets, food companies need to get strategic with pricing and promotion and stay focused on product innovation.

Experts Explore the Evolving Employment Landscape: Panelists in a Business FIRST session point to changes in job-seeker and employee priorities.

Sizing Up Generation Alpha: In a Business FIRST panel session titled “Preparing for Generation Alpha,” leading market research experts discuss the early indications of how foodservice providers and CPG companies can best position themselves to reach this vast consumer group.

Creating More Resilient, Climate-Friendly Supply Chains: Business FIRST panelists share strategies for future-proofing supply chains increasingly battered by the impact of climate change.

Navigating the Ups and Downs of Funding: A panel of investors and industry experts at IFT FIRST shared how food and beverage companies can secure funding and strategically navigate the evolving venture capital landscape to maximize their market success.