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As I write this update about CIFST and our members in the spotlight, it is the Summer Solstice, which seems fitting, as many of us across the country are experiencing a warmer than usual start to our Summer.
The past Spring was busy with a successful professional development Webinar series featuring GS1 with sessions in both official languages, with many members receiving a Certificate of Completion after attending all four webinars. We celebrated International Women’s Day during an interactive webinar where participants heard about “Inspiring Inclusion” from four women at different stages of their Food Industry careers. CIFST continued to build on Technical Sessions to inspire and support the professional development of members with the 2024 Food Trends Seminars at the end of March, hosted at the Maple Leaf Think FOOD! Centre. The Quebec Section held their Supplier’s Night in Terrebonne – felicitations on a successful event with speakers highlighting commodities and current trends, as well as nutrition labelling on packaging, sustainability and consumer trends. New this year, was CIFST INTERFACE, a co-locate event hosted by CIFST, immediately prior to the table top event.
We were also able to mix in some socializing and education amongst members and guests with the First Annual Niagara Wine Tour which visited three vineyards all the while highlighting viticulture and fermentation processes, as well as pairing of wines. The Quebec Section hosted members and families at Cirque Du Soleil in Montreal, while BCFT hit the links for their Annual Golf Tourney and Banquet.
A significant highlight and achievement for CIFST and its members was the announcement of the Food Sustainability and Resilience Cluster which is supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) – AgriScience Program - Clusters Component, and collaboration with innovative industry partners. The Cluster represents nine research project collaborations between industry and researchers which underwent rigorous independent peer-review (learn about the 9 Cluster activities here: https://cifst.ca/food-science-cluster/#fc-activities). You are encouraged to participate in the virtual meet and greet webinar of Cluster researchers set for September! A key component of the Cluster initiatives of importance to CIFST members is the Knowledge Technology and Transfer arising from the projects which will form the basis of a series of webinars beginning in Fall 2024, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements. In the meantime, if you have questions about the AAFC Cluster application process, programming and governance, please see: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/programs/agriscience-program-clusters
You can also reach out to Phillip Lee-Wing, the Scientific Director of the Food Sustainability and Resiliency Cluster. It goes without saying that the application process to initiate the Cluster, independently peer-review the research project applications, oversee the research budgets and timelines, as well as the hiring of Cluster staff were vetted by AAFC Officers and Staff under the auspices of the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Your CIFST Board of Directors, Past-Presidents and staff have also been busy working on programming and plans to support our Strategic Plan over the next few years. These initiatives include reviewing and renewing the CIFST Institute Awards, including the CIFST Fellow (FCIFST) designation. As well, the Conference Taskforce members have been working to implement and facilitate a sustainable and engaging conference plan of action to engage the different sectors of our membership including industry, researchers and students.
In closing, I hope you continue to be inspired as a Food Science Professional or student member with our opportunities for professional development, networking and mentorship alongside your fellow CIFST members and benefit and grow from your engagement and volunteerism. I look forward to connecting further at the upcoming CIFST Annual General Meeting set for July 9th – please do register for the virtual meeting, or if you cannot attend, do send in your proxy form.
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