IFT20 to transition to online experience in light of COVID-19 pandemic

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute of Food Technologist’s (IFT) Board of Directors has decided to transition the onsite IFT20 Annual Event and Food Expo, planned for July 12 – 15 in Chicago, into a virtual experience.

“This was believed to be the best and safest course of action after careful consideration of evolving COVID-19 pandemic developments,” said IFT president Pam Coleman. “IFT’s board focused on a solution that provided an engaging, accessible, and inclusive platform which will be able to convene our global community, enabling us to connect, to learn, to share knowledge, and to advance the science of food and food innovation – a purpose that is more important today than ever before.”

To allow time to successfully transition to a virtual experience platform and to allow attendees, exhibitors, and stakeholders time to plan and make travel adjustments, IFT decided to make this decision early on. IFT is planning to include technical research papers (posters) and scientific sessions in the virtual format. The staff is also working to move all pre-event short courses to a virtual format as well. As of now, the institute is planning to launch the virtual experience mid-July, but it will provide more details in the coming weeks. Updates will come via the IFT website and social media sites.

For general questions regarding the virtual event, visit ift.org/ift20faq.