Food for Thought is a monthly, members-only e-newsletter from the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST).
PRESIDENTIAL FODDER
Summer is in session! I hope you are all taking advantage of the beautiful summer weather!

The impact of COVID-19 and the political landscape continues to shape our lives and our businesses. It is encouraging to see how our industry has responded. Many businesses have adjusted well and continue to innovate and grow. CIFST has also faced many challenges, and we have had to rethink how we interact with and serve our members.

Our partnership with Food in Canada Magazine has resulted in a very well received weekly webinar series. Interest and participation have been excellent and we will continue this series through July. If you missed any of these webinars, they are posted on our website to be viewed at your leisure.

CIFST and Food in Canada have also commissioned an online survey about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on our food sector and our businesses. The results are very interesting and we will be sharing this with you very soon.

No one knows how long it will be before we are able to meet face to face again. This has led to numerous cancellations including our annual conference and our CIFST section events including supplier nights. In order to make sure our members stay connected and top of mind; we have launched Coast to Coast: A Virtual Showcase to take place on October 28th from 11 am to 4:00 pm. Registration for all Suppliers is now open. Early response from Canadian and US suppliers has been encouraging. You do not want to miss this! Check your inbox for more information and updates.

Through all of this, I am pleased to inform you that our membership ranks continue to grow! Thank you all for being members and for your participation in our events.

CIFST will continue to keep you informed of industry issues and events with regular updates either through this letter or posted on our website.

I wish you and your family, friends and colleagues best of health.
Rob Kowal
CIFST President
Tel: 416-566-3826
CIFST Delivers Webinars
Our late July webinar is a summer Bonfire Chat with Dr. Rickey Yada - PhD, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia (UBC) with moderation by Jenny Tian - Product Developer, Loblaws Companies Limited. Topic: Impact of COVID-19 on the Agri-Food System. To register, please CLICK HERE

CIFST and Food in Canada , Canada's food and beverage processing magazine, have partnered to deliver a webinar with CIFST members and stakeholders on every Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST for the foreseeable future. Registration is FREE to all members with a n on-member fee of $25.00.
BITS & BITES
Mentees Wanted for 2020 Mentorship Program

The Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST) will be launching its National Mentorship Program later this month. This specially designed, cloud-based program will offer a rare opportunity for young CIFST members to meet and engage one-on-one with the leaders of Canada’s food and beverage sector.

We are now seeking young professionals aged 35 and under , working or looking for work in the food and beverage sector. Participation is encouraged across Canada and in all of CIFST's Sections from coast to coast.
CIFST Coast to Coast: A Virtual Showcase
CIFST recently announced that it is organizing a national virtual showcase on October 28, 2020 to give industry suppliers a platform to promote their brands and connect with prospective buyers.

This national event will feature a virtual trade show and will be book ended by opening and closing keynote speakers including Chris Cummins , a six time TEDx speaker. The event will run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST on October 28th.

Virtual booths are $399 for CIFST members. Exhibitors can also secure an online listing in the Exhibitors’ Gallery which will run September 1, 2020 to March 1, 2020. The fee to list is $175.

A limited number of sponsorship opportunities exist, some of them exclusive to one sponsor only.

To learn more about this event and to secure your booth, please CLICK HERE .
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