Institute of Food Technologists

Adapt or Fall Behind: The Agentic Imperative for Food Companies

Tastewise CEO Alon Chen told attendees at IFT FIRST that agentic AI is rapidly becoming a competitive necessity, helping food companies accelerate innovation, understand consumers in real time, and ...
Institute of Food Technologists

Separating Signals From Noise to Understand Food’s Future

Food futurist Mike Lee explains how food industry leaders can identify enduring consumer shifts, leverage AI for innovation, and make sustainable products more appealing by positioning them as ...
Institute of Food Technologists

The Pitch! Perfect: Allergen-Free Nut Company Wins Startup Competition

Nurtured Nuts won the top prize at IFT FIRST’s The Pitch! competition for its CRISPR-developed allergen-free peanuts, highlighting a diverse group of food tech startups advancing innovations in ...
Institute of Food Technologists

Experts Debate How MAHA Is Reshaping Food Science and Regulation

Experts at IFT FIRST examined how the MAHA movement is influencing food regulation, ingredient reformulation, consumer ...
Institute of Food Technologists

Panel Identifies Solutions for Safe, Nutritious Food Supply

Experts at IFT FIRST discuss food security, sustainability, water management, and collaboration to build a safer, more ...
Institute of Food Technologists

Employees Prioritize Work/Life Balance and Flexibility

IFT’s 2026 Compensation and Career Path Survey shows that food science professionals increasingly prioritize work/life ...
Institute of Food Technologists

FDA Deputy Commissioner Details Agency’s Food Safety Priorities

Acting FDA Deputy Commissioner Donald Prager shared the FDA’s latest food safety priorities at IFT FIRST, including AI-driven ...
Institute of Food Technologists

AI, Agility, and Communication Top Career Skills for Food Scientists

Panelists at IFT FIRST explore how AI, adaptability, communication, and changing workforce expectations are reshaping food science careers.
Institute of Food Technologists

Marcia Walker On Food Innovation, Designing Better Ingredients at the Source

Marcia Walker, PhD, an IFT Fellow, brings more than two decades of front-line experience in food safety, product innovation, and commercialization. She has pioneered high-pressure processing, helped ...
Institute of Food Technologists

Food Scientists See Salary Gains

The median salary for U.S. professionals in the food sciences is $120,000, according to the 2026 IFT Compensation and Career Path Survey, conducted in January 2026. That’s an 11.8% spike over the ...
Institute of Food Technologists

National Seasoning Manufacturers Association Annual Meeting

The National Seasoning Manufacturers Association (NSMA) holds its 53rd Annual Meeting. As the premier trade association representing the blended seasoning industry, NSMA is dedicated to advancing ...
Institute of Food Technologists

Expo Hall Tour: Startups

Meet at CoDeveloper Booth 207Walk the expo hall with a curated group focused on startups reshaping the science of food. This guided tour introduces emerging companies working on new ingredients, ...