Omnivore
Episode 57
The Hottest Trends in Functional Foods, Upbeat About Upcycling, Welcome Gen Z
Episode Description
Dr. Liz Sloan, who has kept a close eye on functional food and beverage trends for decades, shares her take on what’s ahead for this market in the year ahead. Dr. Lara Ramdin, widely known as the Upcycling Queen, talks to Omnivore about how upcycling not only reduces food waste but also offers a chance to enhance nutrition accessibility, support circular economies, and provide sustainable solutions to food insecurity. Huy Nguyen, chief education and career development advisor at Intelligent.com, discusses what Generation Z brings to the workforce and how mentorship can help build strong bridges between the generations.
This episode of Omnivore is brought to you by IFT FIRST--Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology. Join food system professionals at McCormick Place in Chicago, July 13-16, 2025, for the industry's premier event connecting innovation, science, and business. Learn more at iftevent.org.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Featured Guests
-
A. Elizabeth Sloan President
A. Elizabeth Sloan, PhD, is CEO and president of consumer trends consultancy Sloan Trends Inc. and a longtime contributing editor of Food Technology magazine. A veteran of work in industry, media, and public relations, Sloan received a PhD in food science and technology from the University of Minnesota.
-
Lara Ramdin Chief Scientist
Lara Ramdin, PhD, is a chief scientist, storyteller, and innovation leader working at the intersection of food, beauty, and circularity.
-
Huy Nguyen
Huy Nguyen, chief education and career development advisor at Intelligent.com, is an entrepreneur and educational innovator with an extensive background in executive management serving in lead roles with technology startups and Fortune 100 companies. His non-profit platform, Solve Community Challenges (SolveCC), has pioneered a transformative approach to higher education, enabling colleges and universities to deeply engage students with their communities through collaborative experiential learning.
Categories
-
Food Health Nutrition
-
Functional Foods
-
Podcasts
-
Omnivore
Omnivore
IFT’s Omnivore and Omnivore Presents: SciDish podcasts spark lively, thought-provoking conversations with the science, business, and regulatory leaders shaping the future of food. Each episode delivers sharp analysis, practical insights, and bold ideas designed to challenge assumptions, ignite innovation, and energize your work across the global food system.
Recent Podcasts
Jul 20, 2026
Marcia Walker On Food Innovation, Designing Better Ingredients at the Source
Discover how Dr. Marcia Walker (Oregon State) and Lyle DePauw (Cargill) are shaping resilient food systems through breakthrough innovation, crop breeding, genomics, gene editing, and AI-driven ingredient development.
Podcasts
Jul 14, 2026
How Food Science Is Driving Innovation to Feed the World
Podcasts
Jun 21, 2026
Science, AI, and Trust: Insights Ahead of IFT FIRST
Omnivore special episode featuring Anupama Joshi (CSPI) and Alon Chen (Tastewise), exploring food misinformation, policy transparency, scientific trust, and how agentic AI accelerates smarter, safer food innovation from concept to commercialization.
Podcasts