The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a non-profit scientific society of food scientists, technologists and related professionals from academia, government and industry, has announced that registration for IFT15: Where Science Feeds Innovation (http://www.am-fe.ift.org/cms/) in Chicago, July 11-14 at McCormick Place, is now officially open. IFT15 is the only global event of its kind to feature the very latest food products, the hottest food trends, and the most important developments in the world of food science.

IFT15 Highlights:

General Sessions:

CEO Panel: Is Big Food, Bad Food?

CEOs Alan D. Wilson, McCormick Company, and Javed Ahmed, Tate & Lyle, and others will discuss and debate questions that impact the global food system.

Women in Food Science Business Panel

Explore the changing roles of women in the food industry while celebrating the accomplishments of women in food science. Join the panelists below as they share insights on how they overcame challenges within their own careers:

* Catherine Woteki, PhD, Under Secretary for Research, Education & Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture

* Sara Mortimore, Vice President Product Safety, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, Land O'Lakes, Inc.

* Liz Myslik, CEO, Fresca Brands, EVP Brand Management, Fresca Foods, Inc.

FutureFood 2050: The Art of Producing a Science-Based Documentary

Learn about the making of IFT's new documentary film, "Food Evolution," from Oscar-nominated director Scott Hamilton Kennedy, who will discuss the many viewpoints he has encountered during the making of the documentary.

Futurist Mike Walsh

Futurist and renowned author Mike Walsh will share emerging trends and technologies, as well as shifts in consumer behavior, and how these disruptive changes are likely to impact the food industry. The first 750 attendees will receive Mike's book, "The Dictionary of Dangerous Ideas."

Featured Lectures:

Mark Post, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Physiology at Maastricht University, Netherlands will share his experience in developing the world's first lab grown beef (made from stem cells) to address the global need for more sustainable meat production.

Mark L. Heiman, PhD, Vice President and Chief Science Officer for MicroBiome Therapeutics will discuss his research of the way food and food ingredients modulate the GI microbiome.

IFT15 scientific and applied education sessions will address hot topics in food safety, product development, food health and nutrition, environmental sustainability, and novel processing and packaging. Over 80 educational sessions and 1,000 poster presentations will provide information on the latest developments and trends in food science.

With more than 1,200 companies expected to exhibit, this event showcases the largest, most diverse collection of food ingredient, equipment, and packaging suppliers from all over the world. Play the IFT15 video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMMhzZUmEmU#t=16) and see how the show comes to life.

Please visit http://www.am-fe.ift.org/cms/?pid=1001037 to register.