Digital Event FAQs
Why did IFT decide to transition to a digital experience?
The health and safety of IFT’s global community is first and foremost in any decision IFT makes. After thoughtful evaluation and consideration of several factors impacting IFT’s ability to offer a safe onsite event experience this year, the IFT Board of Directors made the decision to offer a digital experience that will focus on industry, academic, and scientific connections, engagement, insights, and knowledge sharing.
Attendees
When will I be able to learn more about the new digital experience?
Plans are underway with details coming soon. A new digital experience website will be launched later this month to share highlights of the exciting programming and features coming this summer. Featured speakers and sessions will be shared as they are finalized in the weeks leading up to the digital event. This experience will provide personalized features and opportunities to meet and connect with new researchers, global peers, product solution providers, and suppliers to discuss, share, debate, and make new strategic connections to help you advance your work, your business, and food innovation. In addition, it will also offer new ways for you to easily and conveniently explore new ingredients, technologies, products, and solutions along with the latest science, trends, and research.
When will registration for the digital experience open?
Registration for the digital experience will open in late April. Details regarding registration will be shared through the new website, via email, and through IFT’s social media channels on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you are not already, we encourage you to join the 2021 Updates email list to receive up-to-date information about the digital experience programming and engagement opportunities.
Will the 2021 digital experience be different from the SHIFT20 virtual event?
YES! The 2021 experience takes feedback and learnings from last year’s event, coupled with new technologies that have recently come on the market, to provide the global food science, innovation, and solutions community a new and innovative digital experience. This experience will provide personalized features and opportunities to meet and connect with new researchers, global peers, product solution providers, and suppliers to discuss, share, debate, and make new strategic connections to help you advance your work, your business, and food innovation. In addition, it will also offer new ways for you to easily and conveniently explore new ingredients, technologies, products, and solutions along with the latest science, trends, and research.
I’m a speaker. What will happen to my session?
IFT was originally planning a hybrid event experience (onsite and digital) and remains committed to providing speakers with a platform to present their work and findings. IFT staff has been in touch with those that have submitted session proposals and will continue to maintain open communication and support to ensure the best possible experience for both presenters and attendees.
I’m an award recipient. How will the award ceremony be different given the new format?
In a similar format to the award ceremonies at our in-person events, IFT will be pre-recording a video featuring each award recipient and their accomplishments. This content will be showcased in the new digital experience as well as on public digital channels to celebrate and amplify the important contributions of the 2021 award honorees.
When will the digital experience take place?
The dates for the digital experience will remain the same—July 19-21, 2021. However, registered attendees will be granted early access to allow them to design a customized experience based on their unique interests and challenges. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet with preferred suppliers through July 23. Because of the digital nature of the event, most content will be pre-recorded and provided in a library for attendees to revisit for up to 6 months after the event dates. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.
I still have additional questions.
Please email any questions that we have not addressed to [email protected] and our helpful IFT Central support team will assist you.
Exhibitors
Will exhibitors receive a refund or be able to rollover their booth refund to be used for next year’s event?
For your convenience, IFT can rollover exhibit fees to IFT22, apply them to IFT21 digital opportunities, or provide a refund. Please access this brief survey for additional details on your exhibit fee options, to confirm how you would like to apply them, and/or to receive personal follow up from our team. Please complete the survey no later than April 19, 2021.
What about next year’s booth selection?
Information regarding booth selection for IFT22 will be provided in the late spring, 2021.
When is IFT22?
IFT22 will take place at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, July 10-13, 2022. The food expo will take place July 11-13, 2022. In addition to the in-person experience, we anticipate digital options to continue to be enhanced and available to allow for optimal inclusion for our global community.
Questions
In the event we have not answered your questions, please contact us at the email addresses listed below. We will address your concerns as soon as possible.
General questions about the 2021 digital experience: [email protected]
Speaker questions: [email protected]
Exhibitor refunds and rollover inquiries: [email protected]
Questions regarding the Fun Run + Fitness event: [email protected]
Questions regarding IFT Student Association events and competitions: [email protected]
IFT membership questions: [email protected]