IFT President Peggy Poole to Discuss the Future of AI in New Product Development and Food Safety at Binsted Lecture

LONDON – January 28, 2026 – The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, is proud to announce that IFT President Peggy Poole, PhD, will present the Binsted Lecture on “Leveraging AI in New Product Development and Food Safety” at the Food and Drink Federation’s London, UK office on February 12, 2026. The event—streaming live (for a fee) at 6:30 p.m., London time (GMT)—is a collaboration between IFT’s British Section, the Food and Drink Federation, the Institute of Food Science and Technology, and Campden BRI, a global leader in food and drink science and research.

In 2024, Poole retired as vice president of the Tea Division for Bigelow Tea Company, based in Fairfield, Connecticut, where she was responsible for R&D, quality, and tea/ingredient procurement. She has more than 40 years of experience in the food industry and assumed the position of IFT President on September 1, 2025.

“I’m honored and excited to deliver the Binsted Lecture and to engage with colleagues who share a commitment to food science,” said Poole. “With more than 40 years in the food industry, I’ve watched our field evolve through waves of new tools and technologies. I look forward to reflecting on those experiences and discussing how AI can help us continue advancing food science, product development, and food safety in meaningful ways.”  

The lecture is named in honor of one of the founders of IFT, Raymond Binsted. IFT presidents have delivered the Binsted Lecture dating back to 1998, three years before Binsted’s passing. Binsted also helped found the IFT British Section. Through IFT Sections, food science professionals network and collaborate with their local peers through a variety of events and opportunities. IFT has 46 Sections spread across the U.S., as well as Mexico, Japan, England, and Canada.

“The Binsted Lecture provides an important opportunity to exchange perspectives across the global food science community, and IFT is proud to participate in this long-standing tradition of international collaboration,” said IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean. “Dr. Poole’s impressive career spanning food safety, product development, and the integration of new technologies makes her perspective on AI especially valuable at this moment of change.”

To learn more about IFT, go to ift.org.

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