The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has released a white paper titled Building a Future-Ready Science Workforce to Address Food and Nutrition Security Challenges. This document identifies four key competency areas essential for addressing food security:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Regulatory and Policy Literacy
- Systems Thinking and Leadership
- Science Communications
Key needs highlighted include faculty training, interdisciplinary collaboration, applied learning via real-world projects, and accessible continuing education for professionals.
The white paper emerged from a virtual roundtable involving over 30 leaders from industry, government, academia, and NGOs, and marks the fifth roundtable conducted by IFT’s Food & Nutrition Security Steering Committee (FNSSC) since its 2021 inception.
Brendan Niemira, PhD, IFT’s Chief Science and Technology Officer, emphasized the importance of a skilled workforce to adapt to rapid technological and social changes. He noted that the white paper serves as a roadmap for preparing a workforce capable of addressing emerging challenges.
Earlier, IFT released the 2026 Compensation and Career Path Report, which offers insights into job trends, compensation, and challenges based on over 5,000 survey responses from the global food science community.
About IFT: Founded in 1939, the Institute of Food Technologists advances the science of food and advocates for innovative solutions to global food challenges, connecting a community of over 200,000 professionals in various sectors related to food and nutrition.
