The IFT19 conference will have an eye toward where food is headed. The conference, which is hosted by the Institute of Food Technologies (IFT) and will take place from June 2-5, 2019, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, is themed “Feed Your Future.” It will bring together over 17,000 food professionals from around the globe to collaborate on innovative solutions that help advance the planet’s food safety, nutrition and sustainability, IFT said.

“This year’s theme, ‘Feed Your Future,’ underscores the importance of professional development and collaborative thinking to help advance the science of food and solve the world’s evolving global food challenges,” said IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean. “Now more than ever … food professionals need access to the most up-to-date science, research, insights and product-development solutions to further their expertise and expand their creativity.”

IFT said the conference’s presentations include more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific sessions covering 12 topical tracks, over 600 research poster presentations and 12 pre-event short courses, including “Survey of Flavor Technology: Applications and Interactions” and “Labeling Requirements and Implications for Food Marketed in the U.S.”

In addition to the scientific and applied science tracks, IFT is once again offering more than 20 panel discussions and presentations on what’s coming next in the science of food and food technology on its IFTNEXT stage. IFT said the sessions include topics such as “AI for Innovation in Product Development” and “Overcoming Clean-Label Challenges in the New Trust Economy.”

IFT noted that it will offer two new deep-dive tracks in 2019 to better explore hot topics impacting the future of food: “Gut Microbiome, Nutrition and Health” and “Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainability: Science, Technology and Policy.” Also new in 2019 is IFT’s Food Traceability Central, which will feature the latest advancements, technologies and platforms being developed to address the world’s food-traceability challenges. 

IFT19 will continue to host one of the industry’s largest exhibitions, featuring over 1,000 food ingredient, equipment, processing, technology and packaging companies in its Food Expo. Attendees may meet face-to-face with exhibiting companies and taste the forefront of global food trends, IFT said, including the latest in clean label, sugar reduction, plant-based ingredients, added nutritional benefits and more.

The 2019 conference’s featured sessions will include the second annual IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge, which is a competition designed to help emerging and investment-ready food and technology companies gain visibility and make strategic connections. The live pitch event will feature five startups vying for the $25,000 cash prize given to Future Food Disruptor of the Year. Audience members at the featured session will be able to cast their vote for a $5,000 People’s Choice award.

Food professionals may register online to attend the 2019 IFT conference at iftevent.org. Non-members of IFT may join when they register and save up to 36% off the cost of registration, IFT said.