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The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a leading non-profit scientific association, is placing artificial intelligence at the centre of its 2026 IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo. Returning to Chicago’s McCormick Place from 12 July to 15 July, the event will serve as a global hub for the next generation of AI-supported food innovation, addressing critical challenges in health, sustainability, and supply chain resilience.

The initiative reflects a broader movement within the food-tech sector to move beyond AI as a novelty and toward practical, science-backed applications that shorten the path from laboratory research to retail shelves.

Designing with Intelligence AI Keynote

A central feature of the event is the AI Keynote titled "Designing with Intelligence: Practical AI for Faster, Smarter, Safer Food Innovation." Scheduled for Wednesday, 15 July, the session will feature Alon Chen, CEO and Co-Founder of Tastewise.

Chen will present real-world use cases demonstrating how AI transforms raw consumer signals into actionable, science-based decisions for R&D leaders. The keynote is hosted by Jay Gilbert, PhD, the Director of CoDeveloper at IFT, and is expected to provide deep insights into how data-driven research is reshaping environmental health, research policy, and course design within the global food system.

The CoDeveloper Science Backed R&D Platform

A major highlight for the 2026 expo is the expanded presence of CoDeveloper, IFT’s proprietary AI-powered R&D platform. CoDeveloper represents a first-of-its-kind solution that pairs the computing speed of modern AI with IFT’s repository of more than 85 years of peer-reviewed research and published content.

Key functional attributes of the CoDeveloper platform include:

Formulation Acceleration 🧪 Helping food scientists overcome technical roadblocks by providing proven formulation considerations in seconds.

Data Integrity 📚 Unlike general-purpose AI, the platform is grounded in IFT’s extensive library of verified, peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Problem Solving 🛠️ Assisting R&D teams in navigating complex regulatory requirements and ingredient substitutions without compromising safety or consistency.

Jay Gilbert emphasised that the advantage in the modern market will go to teams that use AI to amplify their existing expertise, rather than attempting to replace human oversight with unvalidated algorithms.

Specialised AI Programming and Technical Sessions

To provide a comprehensive overview of the technology's impact, IFT FIRST will feature a robust track of AI-specific sessions covering everything from emotional intelligence in taste to supply chain energy optimisation.

Featured technical sessions include:

Affective Intelligence 🧠 Exploring how technology can be taught to "taste emotion" and predict consumer sensory reactions.

Energy Edge ⚡ Utilising IoT-driven AI to power energy efficiency and operational sustainability in large-scale food production.

Workforce Literacy 📖 A practical blueprint for designing AI training programs that are accessible and smart for food system employees.

Regulatory Decision Making ⚖️ Assessing the role of AI tools in high-risk food safety and regulatory compliance environments.

Guided AI Tours and Experiential Learning

In addition to the lecture-based programming, the expo will offer a special guided AI-themed tour on Tuesday, 14 July. The tour is designed to connect attendees with exhibitors currently using AI-enabled tools for tasks such as:

Predictive Modelling 📉 Forecasting shelf-life and ingredient stability under various environmental conditions.

Process Optimisation ⚙️ Streamlining manufacturing workflows to reduce waste and improve consistency.

Formulation Design 🍦 Demonstrating concrete use cases where AI supports real-time decision-making in a kitchen or laboratory setting.

By providing this hands-on access to emerging technologies, IFT is ensuring that food science professionals are equipped with the literacy and tools required to maintain a competitive lead in an increasingly digitised global food system.