IAFP 2014

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Des Moines, Iowa - IAFP 2014 was another successful meeting for the International Association for Food Protection. The three-day meeting concluded August 6, 2014 with ­a record-breaking international audience of more than 2,800 attendees representing 49 countries, 51 states, and six Canadian provinces. The meeting has earned recognition as the leading food safety conference.

IAFP 2014’s Opening Session recognized four Fellow Award recipients, five Travel Award recipients from State or Local Health or State Agricultural Departments, one Travel Award recipient from a Country with a Developing Economy, and 16 Student Travel Scholarship Award recipients. The Ivan Parkin Lecture followed, featuring William (Bill) Marler, Managing Partner of Marler Clark, LLP PS, Seattle, Washington. Mr. Marler spoke on “20 Years Later, Where Were We, Where are We and Where are We Going?”

The program featured more than 900 presentations, including 52 symposia, 15 roundtables, more than 500 poster presentations, and 132 technical presentations. Representatives from a record 172 companies, including 46 new exhibitors, showcased equipment and the latest innovations in food safety services.

On Wednesday afternoon, the John H. Silliker Lecture featured Dr. Leon Gorris, Director for Regulatory Affairs in North Asia for Unilever Research and Development, Shanghai, China. Dr. Gorris spoke on “Bringing Science-based Risk Analysis to Practice to Further Improve Food Safety.”

Wednesday night’s Awards Banquet honored excellence in food safety by recognizing 25 individuals and organizations with awards. The evening concluded with the gavel presentation to Incoming President, Dr. Donald Zink, Senior Science Advisor at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration – CFSAN in College Park, Maryland.