News Brief June 2026

IUFoST Contributes to Codex Discussions on Food Labelling

IUFoST contributed to the 49th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling in Ottawa, Canada, providing comments on precautionary allergen labelling and the discussions around 'ultra-processed' foods. IUFoST highlighted the importance of science-based, risk-informed labelling that protects consumers while supporting clear, consistent and credible international food standards.

Read the full IUFoST submission to the Codex Committee on Food Labelling here.

UNIDO offers IUFoST strategic partnership in FoodGuard Summit

Building a Coalition to Strengthen the Critical Midstream was the focus of IUFoST’s contribution to the UNIDO sponsored FoodGuard Summit, held in Cairo, Egypt, from 2–4 June 2026.

Recognizing IUFoST’s leadership in supporting sustainable industrial development, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) proposed a strategic partnership during the event. This initiative reflects the ongoing commitment of both organizations based on the agreement signed together in November 2024 to collaborate on projects that advance and adapt food science and technology for agribusiness, while integrating and scaling scientific capacity and innovation throughout food systems. IUFoST President Professor Samuel Godefroy represented the Union at the Summit.

DialogueNEXT: Re-developing African traditional foods

Don’t miss this upcoming DialogueNEXT session led by Dr. Charles Aworh, recipient of the World Food Prize Foundation Top Agri-Pioneer Award and Immediate Past President of IAFoST.

Join the discussion on the revitalization and future development of African traditional foods.

INTRODUCING THE NEW FELLOWS OF IAFoST 2026

The Gallery begins with the first seven new Fellows we will meet in Hong Kong at the IUFoST World Food Congress in October this year.

The International Academy (IAFoST) elected 27 new Fellows in this 15^th class of outstanding food scientists and technologists.

These Fellows were elected from among many nominations by the International Academy and IUFoST Adhering Bodies, and they are acknowledged by their peers as outstanding representatives of international food science and technology. These new Fellows will be inducted in the Academy when the 23^rd World Congress of Food Science and Technology is held in Hong Kong, SAR from 25-29 October 2026. We begin the gallery by introducing seven of our newly elected Fellows.

You will meet all 27 in upcoming News Brief editions and in person at the World Food Congress this October in Hong Kong!

	Joseph Oneh Abu - Nigeria Focus areas: Chemistry of starch-based foods, nutritional enrichment, fortification, regulatory issues and compliance monitoring.		Hafiz Abubakar - Nigeria Focus areas: Food science and nutritional biochemistry, cereal biochemistry, food quality and safety, and public health nutrition.
	Janet E Collins - USA Focus areas: Food Science, nutrition, food regulations, agriculture, animal science.		Salomon Devahastin - Thailand Focus areas: Food engineering, superheated steam, 3D and 4D printing.
	Asgar Farahnaky - Australia Focus areas: Advanced food processing, emerging food ingredients, health promoting food biopolymers, food physics, food innovation.		Vural Gökmen - Turkey Focus areas: Understanding and controlling processing-induced chemical reactions in foods, especially Maillard reaction products, using advanced analytical methods to design safer, healthier, high-quality processed foods.
	Chen Gong - China Focus areas: Fermented food, advanced biomanufacturing technology.

Spotlight on Rose Spiess Video Competition

As global attention increasingly focuses on the role of food science and technology in addressing critical food-related challenges, the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) is pleased to announce the return of its highly anticipated biennial Rose Spiess Video Competition.

First launched in conjunction with the IUFoST World Congress of Food Science and Technology in 2016, and returning for the 2026 Congress in Hong Kong, SAR, the competition celebrates diverse stories that demonstrate the impact and importance of food science and technology across regions, countries, and communities worldwide.

The submission deadline is 15 July 2026. Find out more about the competition here.

IUFoST World Congress competitions:
Thank you for your enthusiastic participation!

Finally, thank you to everyone who entered the IUFoST competitions that are now closing.

The response has been overwhelming and deeply gratifying. We sincerely appreciate your enthusiasm for the present and future of food science and technology and for its potential to help communities around the world achieve safe, nutritious, and sustainable food systems. We will be announcing the results very soon.

And just wait until you see our new mascot—created by you, for you, especially for the World Food Congress in Hong Kong. The creativity and talent displayed in the submissions have been truly remarkable.

Thank you for helping make this Congress a celebration of innovation and collaboration for the future of food science and technology.

IUFoST World Congress - See you in Hong Kong!
IUFoST 23^nd World Congress of Food Science and Technology, 25-29 October in Hong Kong.