Demand for IUFoST programmes and participation in policy-making grows

The role of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) as a both a catalyst and facilitator of collaborative approaches to food science and technology-related issues and education continues to grow. Positioning Food Science and Technology for future development includes communicating processing technologies, focusing students on the central role of food science and technology for development, influencing decision-makers, and strengthening the discipline. Under the pillars of Food Security, Food Safety, Food Policy, Education and Scientific Collaboration, opportunities for interaction with and between Adhering Bodies, other international organisations through ICSU, United Nations, industry and consumer organisations and member involvement were maximized with both existing and new IUFoST initiatives. As a result, there is a strong interest in IUFoST’s programmes and participation in policy-making on issues of global concern.

IUFoST is the global federation of national scientific organisations representing more than 300,000 food scientists and technologists from over 75 countries. It has five regional groupings: ALACCTA representing Central and South America, EFFoST representing Europe, FIFSTA representing the ASEAN region, MENAFoST representing the Middle East and North Africa, and WAAFoST representing West Africa. IUFoST organises World Food Congresses, among many other activities, to stimulate the ongoing exchange of knowledge in those scientific disciplines and technologies relating to the expansion, improvement, distribution and conservation of the world’s food supply.