IFT Shares How to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change to Improve Food and Nutrition Security in New White Paper

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific association committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, has released a white paper on Food Science & Technology Solutions for Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change that identifies food science and technology opportunities and solutions that can address the dual challenge of adapting to and mitigating climate change to improve food and nutrition security.

"With a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based action, the food science and technology community can drive real, scalable solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change… but we have to act now." - IFT CSTO Brendan Niemira, PhD

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Specifically, the white paper examines solutions that address resource inefficiency; enhance resilience in food production, supply chains, and safety; reduce food waste and loss across the supply chain; overcome barriers to adopt sustainable solutions; bridge workforce development and education gaps; and strengthen resilience amid political and economic uncertainty.

“Climate concerns are posing unprecedented challenges to food security, resource availability, and supply chain stability. The middle segment of the food chain, such as food processing, packaging, distribution and storage, plays a critical but often overlooked role in shaping a sustainable future,” said Brendan Niemira, PhD, IFT Chief Science and Technology Officer. “With a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based action, the food science and technology community can drive real, scalable solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change… but we have to act now.”

Download the white paper.

The white paper is the result of a virtual roundtable discussion organized by IFT’s Food & Nutrition Security Steering Committee (FNSSC). This is the fourth virtual roundtable discussion organized by FNSSC since its establishment in 2021—previous roundtables focused on biofortified crops, food loss, and processing technologies.

IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo

This year at IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo, the leading food science and innovation expo hosted annually by IFT, there will be numerous scientific sessions featuring top experts in food sustainability and climate change. This includes the Sustainability Keynote “Sustainable Solutions: Advancing Food Security Through Science and Collaboration.” Moderated by Blake Harris, Managing Director of IFT’s Global Food Traceability Center, the keynote panel will explore the latest breakthroughs in traceability, resource management, and climate adaptation.

Panelists include:

• Mercy Lung’aho, PhD, Food Security, Nutrition and Health Program Lead at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
• Paul Bowen, PhD, Senior Water Consultant at GHD

Other sustainability-themed featured scientific sessions will focus on:

• How circular economy principles reduce food loss while strengthening supply chain stability
• What emerging research and tools are addressing climate resilience, food and nutrition security, and food safety in global food systems
• Alternative uses for food waste

To learn more or to register for IFT FIRST, which is being held July 12-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago, to go www.ift.org/ift-first-event.

Additional sustainability and climate change content, courtesy of IFT’s Food Technology magazine:

• Choosing Climate Solutions That Deliver: Q&A with Project Drawdown Executive Director Jonathan Foley
• Building Circularity Into the Supply Chain
• Reinventing Food Waste

About Institute of Food Technologists

Since 1939, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has served as the voice of the global food science community. IFT advocates for science, technology, and research to address the world’s greatest food challenges, guiding our community of more than 200,000. IFT convenes professionals from around the world – from producers and product developers to innovators and researchers across food, nutrition, and public health – with a shared mission to help create a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. IFT provides its growing community spanning academia, industry, and government with the resources, connections, and opportunities necessary to stay ahead of a rapidly evolving food system as IFT helps feed the minds that feed the world. For more information, please visit ift.org.