IAFP 2024

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Des Moines, Iowa - IAFP 2024 was held in Long Beach, California July 14–17, and concluded with more than 3,500 registered attendees representing 56 countries, 49 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and seven Canadian provinces. The meeting has earned recognition as the leading food safety conference.

President Tim Jackson officially welcomed attendees to Long Beach at IAFP 2024’s Opening Session on Sunday evening. Those honored throughout the session included three Fellow Award recipients; four Travel Award recipients from Health or Agricultural Departments in North America; three Travel Award recipients from a Country with a Developing Economy; and 20 Student Travel Scholarship Award recipients. Mr. Mark Carter, IAFP President-Elect, then introduced this year’s Ivan Parkin Lecture, presented by Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, Full Professor and a Canada Research Chair in Foodborne Pathogen Dynamics in the Department of Food Science, University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, and Director of Gueph’s Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety. Dr. Goodridge spoke on “Digesting Truth: Navigating Food Safety Education in the Age of Misinformation.”

IAFP 2024’s program featured more than 1,100 presentations including 70 symposia, 25 roundtable sessions, 136 technical sessions, and more than 900 poster presentations. Most sessions were recorded and are available to all registered attendees as well as those who could not attend. Representatives from 153 companies showcased equipment and the latest innovations in food safety services through presentations in this year’s Exhibit Hall.

Monday’s agenda included the “U.S. Regulatory Update on Food Safety,” featuring Dr. J. Emilio Esteban, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Dr. Jim Jones, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as featured speakers.

On Wednesday afternoon, the John H. Silliker Lecture featured Dr. Robert Brackett, Senior Vice President and Dean of the Institute of Environmental Health (IEH) Academy, based in Herndon, Virginia. Dr. Brackett presented, “The Future of Food Safety: Future Shock?”

Wednesday night’s Awards Banquet honored excellence in food safety by recognizing 30 individuals and organizations with awards. The meeting concluded with the gavel presentation to Incoming President, Mr. Mark Carter, CEO of MC Squared Enterprises, Chattanooga, Tennessee.