CHICAGO—The demand for food scientists in the U.S. will increase by 10 percent in the next seven years. By 2050, the global population is predicted to reach 9 billion people. While there is a definite need for more individuals to enter the field of food science, many students aren’t aware of these opportunities.

This is why Feeding Tomorrow, the Foundation of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), is leading an initiative called Food4Thought to promote food science as a career and show students how they can make a difference by becoming a food scientist. This new initiative was announced July 14th during the 2013 IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo held at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The first program launched as part of Food4Thought is that four girls from Girls, Inc. of Orange County, California came to Chicago to attend the IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo so they could see firsthand what food science is all about. During their stay, they toured the Expo floor, attended sessions, visited local food companies and got to see several Chicago landmarks.

“Food4Thought will raise the visibility of the profession and help create real-world experiences to share the wonder of food science with students,” said IFT Executive Vice President Barbara Byrd Keenan. “Specifically, Food4Thought will position food science as a key STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) providing students with unique career opportunities that make a difference in how we live and eat.“