Collaboration + Innovation: How Can Food Science and Technology Transform the Food System?

Keynotes and Featured Sessions – Monday, July 15

Opening Keynote | 8:15 am – 9:30 am CT
Revolutionizing Food Innovation Through AI
Embark on a journey to unveil the transformative power of AI in food innovation. Explore how collaboration across the human/machine spectrum fuels groundbreaking advancements in predictive analytics, precision engineering, biotechnology and food product development. This opening keynote promises insightful exploration into the synergies between AI and the global science of food community. Join us for an enlightening experience, where the future of food converges with the global pursuit of sustainable and innovative solutions.

Asch Harwood, PhD
(Moderator)
Vice President, Data & Insights at ReFED

Justin Honaman, MBA
Head, Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Go-To-Market at Amazon/AWS

Nora Khaldi, PhD
Founder and CEO at Nuritas – member of the World Economic Forum of Young Global Leaders

Ramesh Kollepara, MTech
Global Chief Technology Officer & Vice President at Kellanova

Keynote | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm CT
Seeding The Future Global Innovation Speed Pitch Event
Join us in a groundbreaking speed pitch event from teams of scientists, engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs from across the globe showcase their winning Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge projects. Witness the collective effort of innovation and collaboration that forms the bedrock of a resilient and thriving global food system.

Vikash Abraham
Chief Strategy Officer at Naandi Foundation

Gumilang Reza Andika
Development and Impact Evaluation Professional at Yayasan Kopernik

M'Lisa Colbert
Founder at URBNG

Michael Curcio
Executive Director, PISCES: Permaculture Institute

Katharina Diehl
Scaling Specialist at HarvestPlus

Armel Gougbedji
Executive Director at AQUAGENIUS

Tatiana Koutchma
Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Sherry Manning
Founder and CEO at Global Seed Savers

Erich Midigo
Founder and Executive Director at Ndalo Heritage Trust

Udah George Onyango
Director at Safe Environment Hub - Kenya

Richard Seshi
Impact Entrepreneur at Association 3535

Bernhard van Lengerich, PhD
Founder at Seeding the Future Foundation

Featured Session: Sustainability & Climate | 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm CT
F&B Ecosystem of the Future: Harnessing the Power of Innovation, Collaboration, and Diverse Thinking
The food and beverage ecosystem stands at a critical juncture – rapidly transforming in the face of unprecedented challenges and disruptions. This panel will delve into pivotal themes such as sustainability, digitalization, consumer-centric innovation and diversity, exploring how these factors are shaping the future of the food and beverage ecosystem and the partnership needed across academia, industry and non-profit to unleash creative solutions. Discover actionable insights to harness innovative solutions, to strategically leverage collaborative partnerships and to navigate disruption in this dynamic landscape.

Saharah Moon Chapotin, PhD
(Moderator)
Executive Director at Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR)

James Gratzek, PhD
Faculty & Director: Food Science & Technology, Food Product Innovation & Commercialization Center (FoodPIC) at University of Georgia

René Lammers, PhD
Executive Vice President & Chief Science Officer at PepsiCo

Sarah Reisinger, PhD
Chief Science & Research Officer at dsm-firmenich

Quincy Lissaur
Executive Director at SSAFE

IFT Special Session Sponsored by IFT Journals | 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm CT
Ultra-processed Foods
Join us for a discussion on the current scientific understanding of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). This session will provide background and an overview of recent advances in the characterization of UPFs, the impact of innovative ingredients and technologies on their quality and safety, expectations and perceptions of consumers, the influence of UPF consumption on nutrition and health, and building healthy dietary patterns with UPFs.

Anna Rosales, RD
(Moderator)
Senior Director Government Affairs & Nutrition at IFT

Mario Estévez García, DVM, PhD
Professor of Animal Production and Food Science at the University of Extremadura, Spain; Scientific Editor at Journal of Food Science; Guest Editor, JFS special issue: Ultra-processed Foods

Kevin Hall, PhD
Senior Investigator at National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Julie Hess, PhD
Research Nutritionist - Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center at USDA - Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

Youling Xiong, PhD
Professor, Department of Animal and Food Science at University of Kentucky

Keynotes and Featured Sessions – Tuesday, July 16

Keynote | 8:30 am – 9:45 am CT
The Future of The FDA’s Food Program
Join us for this groundbreaking keynote session featuring James “Jim” Jones, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s first Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods. In this exclusive address, Deputy Commissioner Jones will delve into the transformative potential of collaboration and innovation in the realm of food science and technology.

Jim Jones
Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Featured Session: Health & Nutrition | 10:15 am - 11:15 am CT
Empowering Food & Nutrition Security: A Vision for Health Equity and Impactful Partnerships
In a world where food security remains a pressing issue, the quest for equitable and sustainable nutrition solutions stands paramount. This featured session delves into the heart of this challenge, emphasizing how food science plays a critical role in achieving ‘food as medicine’ approaches and overall food and nutrition security.

Sylvia Rowe, PhD
(Moderator)
President and Owner at SR Strategy

Caree Jackson Cotwright, PhD
Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity at USDA - Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

Gary Foster, PhD
Chief Science Officer at WeightWatchers

Ruth Oniang'o, PhD
Founder & Editor-in-Chief at African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development

Katie Stebbins, MA
Executive Director of the Food and Nutrition Innovation Institute (FNII) at Tufts University

Featured Session: Novel Technology & Innovation | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CT
Advancing Food System Innovation Through Novel Technologies
Join us for a captivating session, where pioneers share monumental breakthroughs and unparalleled success in scientific ingenuity. As we delve into the heart of food science and technology, uncovering the pivotal role of collaboration in catalyzing transformative solutions, we stand at the brink of a new era of possibility.

Tim Fires
(Moderator)
President at Circana Global Foodservice

Aletta Schnitzler, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer at TurtleTree

Lou Cooperhouse, MS
Founder, President & CEO at BlueNalu

Ellen Kim, MBA
Marketing Director: Plantspired Brand Innovation & Marketing Communications at Pulmuone Foods USA, Inc.