SPEAKERS

Curious to learn more about the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI) and its role in the global flavor landscape? Join us for an engaging session led by Sven Ballschmiede, Executive Director of IOFI, as he shares insights into the organization’s mission to promote the safe use, responsible development, and global trade of flavorings.

Through this session, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of IOFI’s structure, its key committees, and the resources it provides to support industry alignment and regulatory engagement worldwide. Learn how IOFI works on behalf of its members—including FEMA and other national and regional associations—to harmonize scientific and regulatory approaches, advocate for sound science, and support the sustainable production of flavorings. Sean Taylor, IOFI’s Scientific Director, will describe IOFI’s scientific program and its global impact.

Whether you're new to IOFI or seeking to better understand how its global work supports FEMA’s objectives, this is a unique opportunity to hear directly from IOFI leadership and strengthen your knowledge of and connection to the international flavor community. And just as importantly, you’ll learn more about the tools that IOFI provides to help you in your day-to-day work.

The vanilla sector today offers unique opportunities to future proof the sector. This includes creating the conditions for improving the livelihoods of farmers and the protection of the environment while mitigating risks across the supply chain and enhancing market confidence. This requires addressing the nexus between rural development, market dynamics and politics. It also requires collective engagement, action and communication which is being driven through the launch of a 2030 Charter - the first public industry commitment on sustainable vanilla.

The FEMA GRAS program has served as the cornerstone of flavor ingredient safety evaluation for more than six decades. In this session, we’ll introduce the program’s scientific underpinnings, including how the FEMA Expert Panel assesses safety data, the types of studies and endpoints that are considered, and how evolutions in toxicology and exposure science inform their decisions. We’ll also examine the value of transparent scientific reviews, and the process for re-evaluation as new information emerges. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the science-based methodology behind FEMA GRAS determinations—and how this process supports both innovation and consumer protection in the flavor industry.

Amb. Doug McKalip (Ret.) will provide the latest status on international trade policy impacting FEMA members and outline the future outlook for 2026.

With a surge of state-level activity aimed at restricting or banning certain food ingredients, companies are under increasing pressure to keep up and respond. This session will provide a clear and timely overview of what’s become law, what’s on the horizon, and the broader political dynamics at both the state and federal level that are driving this momentum.

​In this session, Dr. T.V. John will talk about his mission of taste modulation research, major accomplishments, and its relevance for the evolving food as well as functional food industry.

The modern workforce today faces unprecedented uncertainty while being asked to do more with less. The result is chronic stress, diminished performance, and rising risk of burnout, exactly when clarity, resilience, and peak performance are most critical.

This energizing session blends performance psychology with positive psychology to reveal how anyone can thrive under pressure. Through engaging stories, interactive demonstrations, and practical tools, participants will learn how to stay in their Optimum Performance Zone and build lasting resilience for themselves and their teams.

Attendees will leave with simple, research-backed techniques they can apply immediately to regulate stress, sharpen decision-making, and transform stressful situations into opportunities for focus, connection, and breakthrough performance.