IFT reveals underfunding scenario of food research in US

IFT has proposed prioritizing federal and private research funding efforts for food with a focus on food science

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has published a white paper about the state of funding for food research, finding that food research in the United States is chronically underfunded.

As a result, IFT concluded that there is potential to perpetuate risk in public health, food safety, and food security while eroding the U.S. talent pipeline and global competitiveness.

With these risks in mind, IFT has proposed prioritizing federal and private research funding efforts for food with a focus on food science.

The white paper examines trends in public and private investment in research as well as the contributions of food to the U.S. economy. It also includes IFT-led survey data regarding research priorities in food science and the impact of insufficient funding.

“Currently, the decline in public funding for food, most pronounced since 2008, is of great concern and cannot be substituted by private funding,” wrote the authors in the IFT white paper. “Public and private funding, however, can be complementary. This ‘call to action’ includes a paradigm change in public, private, and public–private investments for research in food to unlock scientific and technology solutions, build a robust talent pipeline, and maintain our global competitiveness.”