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IFT FIRST expo in Chicago to feature AI sessions focused on food innovation and product development

IFT FIRST, the Institute of Food Technologists' annual conference, runs July 12-15 in Chicago with a focus on AI tools for food product development. Seven sessions cover formulation, consumer data, and R&D workflows.

2 min read
Product development

Food Science Conference Focuses on AI Tools for Product Development

The Institute of Food Technologists will dedicate its annual conference to artificial intelligence applications in food innovation, with sessions designed specifically for product developers and R&D teams. IFT FIRST runs July 12-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The conference will feature CoDeveloper, IFT's AI platform that combines machine learning with 85 years of peer-reviewed research to accelerate formula development. Companies across the food industry have used the tool to overcome technical roadblocks and speed product launches since its debut last year.

What Product Developers Will See

A keynote Wednesday morning will showcase real-world cases where AI converts consumer data into product decisions. Alon Chen, CEO of Tastewise, will discuss how AI supports faster development cycles and stronger formulations.

Jay Gilbert, who leads CoDeveloper at IFT, said the advantage goes to teams that use AI to amplify expertise rather than replace it. "AI can speed formulation, strengthen quality and consistency with predictive tools, and turn consumer signals into better decisions, but only when it's built on trusted data, validated by humans, and guided by strong governance," he said.

Sessions for Your Role

The conference includes seven dedicated sessions on AI in product development:

  • Foundations of AI in Product Development - Sunday, July 12, 1-4 p.m. A full workshop on applying AI to R&D work.
  • How Are Emerging AI Tools Transforming Food Innovation End-to-End? - Tuesday, July 14, 10-10:45 a.m. Panelists from RTI International, PepsiCo, and other companies discuss consumer research through scaled production.
  • Product Innovation in the Age of AI: A Hands-On Workshop - Wednesday, July 15, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Practical training on using AI for formulation and development.
  • How Do We Balance AI and Human Expertise in Food Innovation? - Wednesday, July 15, 1:10-1:55 p.m. A panel addressing the role of human judgment alongside AI recommendations.

Additional sessions cover AI for food safety decisions, workforce training, and energy efficiency in production.

Guided Tour and Exhibits

A guided AI tour on Tuesday afternoon will connect attendees with exhibitors using AI for formulation design, predictive modeling, and process optimization. CoDeveloper will have a booth in the AI and Technology Pavilion.

For more information and registration, visit IFT's event page. IFT members receive discounted pricing for both the conference and CoDeveloper access.

Learn more about AI for Product Development and Generative AI and LLM Courses to prepare for the conference topics.

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