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IFT Sets Virtual Course on Artificial Intelligence in Food

The Institute of Food Technologists, a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, has launched a new virtual short course designed to help academia, government, and industry professionals harness the boundless potential of artificial intelligence to innovate and excel through hands-on exercises, personalized use cases, and insights from AI thought-leaders.

Unlocking the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Food” includes four 90-minute online sessions that take place over a two-week period starting Dec. 5 and concluding on Dec.14The program will run from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CT on Dec. 5, 7, 12, and 14, and will be taught by Tasio co-founders Dray McFarlane and Thomas Altman.

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly growing, and the science of food community should seize the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how AI is impacting and will impact their roles, responsibilities, and the global food supply as a whole,” said IFT Chief Science and Technology Officer Bryan Hitchcock. “AI has the potential to drive efficiency and innovation in daily work, and this virtual course will provide substantial benefits with minimal time and financial commitments that will help empower attendees to hit the ground running in 2024.”

Day one will focus on AI fundamentals, history, and how models work, while day two will focus on hands-on prompt engineering. Day three will include a deeper dive into specific tools and food technology scenarios, while day four will conclude with continued exploration of food technology scenarios and philosophical discussions around AI.

Specific topics include how advanced applications like ChatGPT work, prompt engineering to apply generative AI models, IP Protection, and purpose-built applications where attendees can experience real-world AI use cases across food safety, product development, supply chain traceability, and other critical industry applications.

To learn more or to register for the virtual course, click here.

The Institute of Food Technologists is a global organization of approximately 12,000 members from more than 100 countries committed to advancing the science of food. Since 1939, IFT has brought together the brightest minds in food science, technology and related professions from academia, government and industry to solve the world’s greatest food challenges. IFT works to ensure that its members have the resources they need to learn, grow, and advance the science of food as the population and the world evolve. IFT believes that science is essential to ensuring a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all.

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Publix Shuffles C-Suite as CEO Jones Becomes Executive Chairman

Effective Jan. 1, Publix CEO Todd Jones will become executive chairman, President Kevin Murphy will be promoted to CEO, and Senior Vice President John Goff will be promoted to president. Chairman of the Board Ed Crenshaw will remain on the board of directors as chairman emeritus.

Jones began his career in 1980 as a front service clerk in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. He worked in various positions before becoming a store manager in 1988. He was promoted to district manager in 1997, regional director in 1999 and vice president of the Jacksonville Division in 2003. In 2005, Jones was promoted to senior vice president of product business development. He was named president in 2008, CEO and president in 2016 and CEO in 2019.

“Todd has been an outstanding leader,” said Crenshaw. “He has been committed to continuing Publix’s success and passionate about the development and promotion of our associates. We’re pleased he will continue to provide leadership to our company as executive chairman.”

Murphy began his career in 1984 as a front service clerk in Margate, Fla. He worked in various positions before becoming a store manager in 1995. He was promoted to district manager in 2003, regional director in 2009, and vice president of the Miami Division in 2014. In 2016, Murphy was promoted to senior vice president of retail operations. He was named president in 2019.

Goff began his career in 1991 as a front service clerk in Jacksonville, Fla. He worked in various positions before becoming a store manager in 2005. He was promoted to district manager in 2010, regional director in 2014, and vice president of the Miami Division in 2019. In 2022, Goff was promoted to senior vice president of retail operations.

“We are delighted to have leaders with the experience of Kevin and John who are ready to take the next steps in their careers,” said Jones. “I am confident in their ability to lead our company into the future and to continue to make Publix a great place to shop for our customers and a great place to work for our associates.”

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the United States with more than 250,000 associates,  operates 1,358 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 26 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at corporate.publix.com/newsroom.

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Newman’s Own Foundation Launches $100K Community Giveaway

Newman’s Own Foundation, the private foundation founded by legendary actor, racecar driver and philanthropist Paul Newman to carry on his legacy of giving away 100 percent of all the profits and royalties it receives from the sale of Newman’s Own food and beverages, announced the launch of Newman’s Own $100k Community Giveaway. As part of this new initiative, Newman’s Own Foundation invites members of the public to join the Newman’s Own Community Fund and vote from a shortlist of selected food justice organizations to determine which will receive a share of more than $100,000 in funding.

As we approach the holiday season, food justice for children and families remains a pressing issue. According to the recent annual report by The U.S. Department of Agriculture, 13.4 million children lived in households that experienced food insecurity in 2022, up 44.6 percent from 2021. Newman’s Own Foundation has been working with leading, community-based food justice organizations as part of its mission to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity. For the Newman’s Own $100k Community Giveaway, the Foundation has shortlisted 15 of its 2023 grantee partners that are working towards addressing the root causes of food insecurity for children, with an emphasis on nutritious food in schools and indigenous food justice.

“Leading up to Giving Tuesday, we’re doing something different and asking the public to vote and help us give away more than $100,000 to support food justice for kids,” said Alex Amouyel, president and CEO, Newman’s Own Foundation. “It’s unacceptable that children go to school hungry in this country. Now more than ever, we know that we need to work with incredible community-based organizations that can address root causes and bring forth community-based solutions including relying on centuries of indigenous wisdom when it comes to regenerative agriculture and healthy eating to promote food justice for kids.”

To participate, members of the public may register for free with Newman’s Own Community Fund and then cast their vote. Donations are also welcome, and Newman’s Own Foundation will match the first $10,000 raised from the public, increasing the overall size of the giveaway.

Voting is open, with each individual eligible to vote once in each category. Final votes must be cast by Nov. 28 at 11:45 p.m. Eastern Time. Based on the total number of votes, Newman’s Own Foundation will offer three prizes for each of the two program areas (Nutritious Food in Schools and Indigenous Food Justice): $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000 as well as a share of the pooled funds raised and matched in addition.

The participating organizations in the Newman’s Own $100k Community Giveaway are:

For Nutritious Food in Schools:

For Indigenous Food Justice:

To learn more about the grantee partners, and cast a vote,  visit Newman’s Own Community Fund page here.

Newman’s Own Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation whose mission is to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity. The Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to use all the money that it receives—100% of the profits and royalties—from the sale of Newman’s Own products in service of its mission. Through the efforts of Paul Newman and Newman’s Own, over $600 million has been given to social impact organizations since 1982. Today, Newman’s Own Foundation grantee partners promote nutritious food in schools, advocate for Indigenous food justice, and create joyful experiences for children living with serious illnesses.

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