Food Science Fundamentals

Virtual Short Course

This course has now reached capacity. Future dates will be released soon.

The aim of this course is to familiarise food industry staff on the basic principles of food science.

Understanding the language used to assist communication with other staff and customers. Identify how food science impacts and supports their non science role. 

This course will be delivered virtually, and the content includes:

• Global Food Trends
• What is Food Science?
• Food Policy & Regulations
• Food Chemistry – the building blocks
• Food Packaging
• Food Microbiology
• Nutrition – food and the human body
• Food Processing
• Sensory & Consumer Science
• Food Safety
• The Future of Food

The course is held over four (4) afternoons:

1. 2 May 2023, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
2. 23 May 2023, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3. 6 Jun 2023, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
4. 27 Jun 2023, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Only 30 spots available.

All food processors need to/should be, undertaken a number of risk reviews at least annually including: HACCP (process controls), raw materials (food safety & allergens) & food fraud + approved suppliers. To be able to do this you need to understand different risk assessment methods along with to keeping up to date with issues all over the world to ensure you are aware of changes to the whole of supply chain.

When you see a trend in your supply chain, you need to ask more questions: crop failures, price changes, substitutions…

What information do your suppliers give you? Do you know what information you should be asking for?

Presented by: Clare Winkel

Clare has worked in the food industry since 1987, from the meat processing floor up including at CSIRO, Queensland Dept Primary Industry, a private consultant and as an international food safety auditor & trainer. She has a B.Sc from QUT & a MBA from the Aust Maritime College. Clare has audited in 14 countries: in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, South Pacific & ANZ with experience across numerous sectors of the industry including: meat processing, seafood processing (including canning in Alaska), farming, fresh produce and the egg industry.                 

She has lived in 4 countries including in a one street fishing village in Ireland & spent 2 years working across the Torres Strait with the small island seafood processors.

Career Highlight:

Spent 6 hours on the Bering Sea in a crab trawler aka ‘Deadliest Catch” Crab boat and did not throw up.

Awards:

2023 Finalist (top 4) for BRCGS Trainer of the Year (worldwide award).

2014 Finalist (top 3) for SQF Auditor of the Year.

2013- International Assoc. of Fish Inspectors: for Services to the International Seafood Industry.

2003- Queensland Government: “Highly Commended” in the Premiers Award in Public Sector Management-Partnerships and Reconciliation, for the Design and delivery of a series of practical training courses for the indigenous seafood processors across Torres Strait.

AIFST Mentoring Program Catch Up with a presentation from guest speaker Sharon Natoli.

This is an invitation to our first catch up for the 2023 Mentoring Program. Please accept this offer to register for the event. We have invited you to register for the event, rather than a calendar invitation, so you will be allocated CPD points.

We will be having a presentation from Sharon Natoli that will help prepare you for the June activity: Peak Performance and the skills of giving and receiving feedback and effective listening. Sharon’s passion lies in helping individuals, teams and leaders speak up with greater confidence so they can live and lead more fully self expressed lives. As a speaker, Sharon inspires and uplifts audiences, challenging them to do more than they thought was possible by breaking through the barriers that hold them back from communicating with clarity and authenticity.  Sharon has 30 years experience in behaviour change counselling, communication, media, and spokesperson roles, and as a speaker and advisor to global organisations. Her professional experience is complimented by her personal empathy and understanding about the challenges associated with speaking up for yourself.

There will also be the opportunity to share your first month experiences as a Mentee/Mentor, if you wish. Attendees these catch ups are an important part of the program and shows AIFST and your Mentee/Mentor that you are committed to getting the most out of this opportunity.

We look forward to continuing working with you throughout this program and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. We look forward to seeing you again on the 1^st June.

Note *This event is for those members currently active in our 2023 Mentoring program.

World Food Safety Day 2023 Webinar - Wednesday 7th June

The fifth World Food Safety Day (WFSD) will be celebrated on 7 June 2023 to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agricultural production, market access, tourism and sustainable development. 

Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers.  Everyone has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and healthy.

AIFST CEO Fiona Fleming will host a panel of food scientists to discuss the importance of food regulation.

Our panellists for the webinar include;

• Todd Redwood - BSI
• Robin Sherlock – Safe Food Qld
• Nick Fletcher – Food Standards
• Andrew Mathieson - ANU
• Jasmine Lacis-Lee – BVAQ
• Duncan Craig – AFGC

Each panellist will be asked to give a 2 minute introduction and AIFST will pose the two following questions to each of our panellists.

1. The theme for 2023 World Food Safety Day is, Food Standards save lives, what do you consider Food Standards’ role is in saving lives?
2. What challenges does Food Standards and food regulation face in the future?

The use of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technology has revolutionised the food processing industry. By applying high voltage pulses, the cell membrane of fruit, vegetable and microbial cells is opened, facilitating mass transport and allowing for targeted texture modification or low heat shelf life extension. In this webinar, we will explore the applications of PEF in food and beverage processing, highlighting user benefits, including sustainability enhancement.

Outline:

I. Introduction

• What is Pulsed Electric Field Technology
• Historical Overview of PEF Technology in Food Processing
• Significance of PEF Technology in the Current Food Industry

II. PEF Applications in Food Processing

• PEF in Fruit and Vegetable Processing
• PEF in Potato Processing
• PEF allows a low heat and energy shelf life extension and preservation for heat-sensitive juice and smoothie

III. User Benefits of PEF Technology

• Product and process benefit
• Sustainability benefit

IV. Sustainability Enhancement

• Making use of electrical energy from renewable sources
• a perfect tool to replace the use of fossil energy

V. Conclusion

• Summary of Key Points
• Future of PEF Technology in Food Processing

New Product Development – Insights & Opportunities

New product development (NPD) is the process of bringing a new product to the marketplace. Your business may need to engage in this process due to changes in consumer preferences, increasing competition and advances in technology or to capitalise on a new opportunity.

Innovative businesses thrive by understanding what their market wants, making smart product improvements, and developing new products that meet and exceed their customers' expectations.

Thank you to our event partners FB RICE, Brownes Dairy and Mt Barker Chicken 

AIFST23 Convention: The Science of Food - Security and Sustainability 24th July 2023

Day 1 only ticket includes Monday 24th July 2023 face-to-face convention sessions and the Networking Event.

The theme for AIFST23 is The Science of Food  - Security and Sustainability. Recognising the key role that food science plays. Held over two days with plenary and three concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Food security and sustainability will be a constant theme. Food safety will feature strongly, alongside advances in health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, sustainability, and packaging

For further information, please contact the AIFST team on 0447 066 324 or via aifst@aifst.com.au.

For all partnership enquiries, please contact Clive Russell on 0407 066 188 or via clive.russell@aifst.com.au.

AIFST23 Convention: The Science of Food - Security and Sustainability 24 - 25th July 2023

The theme for AIFST23 is The Science of Food  - Security and Sustainability. Recognising the key role that food science plays. Held over two days with plenary and three concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Food security and sustainability will be a constant theme. Food safety will feature strongly, alongside advances in health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, sustainability, and packaging.

For further information, please visit our event website page HERE

AIFST23 FOOD and WINE Networking Evening

A key highlight of the AIFST Convention is the food and wine networking evening and the 2023 event will continue this tradition.

The event is a great opportunity to create new connections and reconnect with your food industry colleagues in an informal setting.

Note -The Food and Wine Networking Evening social function is already included in all Full Convention Registrations and in any Day 1 only Convention Registrations purchased for Monday 24 July 2023 

Tickets:

Thank you to our food and wine networking evening partner: GS1 Australia

AIFST23 Convention: The Science of Food - Security and Sustainability Tuesday 25th July 2023

The theme for AIFST23 is The Science of Food  - Security and Sustainability. Recognising the key role that food science plays. Held over two days with plenary and three concurrent session streams, the convention will feature more than fifty scientific and food industry speakers from across the agri-food sector. Food security and sustainability will be a constant theme. Food safety will feature strongly, alongside advances in health and nutrition, sensory and consumer science, food security and resilience, sustainability, and packaging

For further information, please contact the AIFST team on 0447 066 324 or via aifst@aifst.com.au.

For all partnership enquiries, please contact Clive Russell on 0407 066 188 or via clive.russell@aifst.com.au.