Advocating for Food Science and Technology
Who better to advocate and elevate the critical role of food science and technology in food and nutrition security, food systems and policies than IFT? We have the authority and responsibility to invest in this work for our members and for the future – for an equitable, sustainable, safe, and nutritious food system – food science and technology is essential. IFT's Science and Policy team is dedicated to advocating for food science and technology including efforts to increase research funding, integrate the science of food in policies and build cross-disciplinary collaborations across the food system. Our activities are global in nature, diverse in scope and multidisciplinary in approach and they demonstrate IFT's commitment to DEI, not just in the makeup of the volunteers, but with increased global engagement, broader participation across the supply chain and inclusion of interdisciplinary science. Our most recent efforts are in four primary areas and include advocating for food science funding, participating in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans process, engaging in the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition & Health & advancing food science and technology solutions for global food and nutrition security with our Food & Nutrition Security Steering Committee.
Advocating for Food Science Funding
One area of primary focus for IFT is increased federal research funding for the work that members do. In 2021 we began our NSF modernization conversations after it was initially proposed in Congress. It has gone through several iterations, but the NSF modernization language is in the final versions of the US Innovation & Competition Act and America COMPETES Act, two bills that are being merged for President Biden’s signature. Our efforts have been to codify food science research as a core part of the NSF’s mission. In 2022, we’ve had 5 Hill visits that included academic members from the senator and representative’s districts. Collaborating with our academic members on advocacy helps bring to life the challenges of food science research funding and especially catches the attention of representatives when they’re hearing from their constituents.
In addition to Hill visits, IFT signed in support of two organizational letters to Congress from the AFRI coalition and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. These letters advocate for AFRI funding and other food & agriculture research funding administered by NIFA. As part of the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NCFAR), IFT also provided testimony to Congress in support of food & agriculture funding within FY23 Ag Appropriations Budgets and participated in 3 virtual visits with staff members of US House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee members.
