Industry Innovators to Address the Future of Protein: Better Meat CEO Paul Shapiro and Alt-Protein Leaders Headline IFT Webinar

CHICAGO – October 30, 2025 – The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific association committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, is hosting a webinar on “Growing the Future: How New Farming Frontiers Are Transforming Protein” on Tuesday, November 12, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT. The webinar will examine agricultural innovations that transcend conventional farming models, including aquaculture systems, precision fermentation, cultured meat, as well as advanced crop improvement techniques.

Featured speakers:

• Paul Shapiro, CEO, The Better Meat Company
• Adam Leman, Principal Scientist, Fermentation, The Good Food Institute
• Yadu Dar, PhD, VP of Business Development, Plantible
• Lovepreet Singh, Continuous Improvement Specialist, Idaho Milk Products

In addition to being co-founder and CEO of The Better Meat Company, Shapiro is the author of “Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World” and is the host of the “Business For Good Podcast.” At The Good Food Institute – a nonprofit organization that promotes plant- and cell-based alternatives to animal products – Leman focuses on the development of biomass fermentation and precision fermentation biotechnology for food protein.

Dar has more than 25 years of experience in developing and commercializing food ingredients from multiple agricultural specialties. He is currently spearheading the commercialization of lemna leaf-based protein products for Plantible, which was recently recognized at IFT FIRST 2025 for its Rubi Protein functional and nutritional plant-based protein ingredient (dive deeper into Plantible and its history in this episode of the Omnivore podcast). Meanwhile, Singh has eight years of experience working in the dairy industry on sustainability, milk proteins, and membrane technology.

“Bringing together some of the brightest minds in alternative protein food innovation is essential toward ushering in the next generation of nourishment, and attendees will gain valuable insights into cutting-edge technologies, emerging trends, and more,” said Anna Rosales, IFT VP of Science and Policy.

During the hour-long webinar, speakers will identify key emerging agricultural and biotechnological innovations transforming protein production; compare the sustainability, functionality, and scalability of new versus traditional protein systems; evaluate methods for assessing environmental and nutritional performance of next-generation protein technologies; and discuss opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration to advance sustainable food innovation.

Cost is $49 but it is free to IFT Premier members.

IFT members have access to an extensive library of exclusive content and resources, as well as a series of virtual and in-person networking opportunities – plus members receive a healthy discount to the world’s most popular food science, research, and technology event, IFT FIRST. Members can also participate in topical special-interest groups, including the IFT Protein Division. Learn more about joining this growing community at IFT Membership.

Register for the webinar.

About Institute of Food Technologists

Since 1939, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has served as the voice of the global food science community. IFT advocates for science, technology, and research to address the world’s greatest food challenges, guiding our community of more than 200,000. IFT convenes professionals from around the world – from producers and product developers to innovators and researchers across food, nutrition, and public health – with a shared mission to help create a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. IFT provides its growing community spanning academia, industry, and government with the resources, connections, and opportunities necessary to stay ahead of a rapidly evolving food system as IFT helps feed the minds that feed the world. For more information, please visit ift.org.

Media Contact

Dennis Van Milligen
Director, External Relations
Institute of Food Technologists
630-853-3022
dvanmilligen@ift.org