FPSA is happy to present attendees of this year’s PROCESS EXPO with a long list of educational opportunities. Our academic short courses will address key issues in important segments of the food and beverage industry, and they feature expert speakers from Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Purdue University, UC-Davis, University of Idaho, University of Nebraska and University of Wisconsin.

Each university was selected for its expertise in a particular segment of the industry. These schools are at the top of their fields in the science of meat, baking, beverage, prepared foods, food processing and packaging. Additionally, they work extensively with industry through their extension programs and are uniquely positioned to discuss the latest innovations in their fields. 

Education is a critical component of our event and a major reason why many attendees come to the trade show. The expertise they find in these sessions, in conjunction with that on the show floor, is a tangible benefit they can bring back to their businesses to address important issues or create new business opportunities.Each university was selected for its expertise in a particular segment of the industry. These schools are at the top of their fields in the science of meat, baking, beverage, prepared foods, food processing and packaging. Additionally, they work extensively with industry through their extension programs and are uniquely positioned to discuss the latest innovations in their fields.

PROCESS EXPO also will debut two exhibits that address food and beverage from a completely different perspective, highlighting the challenges of global food waste and hunger in the greater Chicago area.

While exhibitors are demonstrating innovative ways to make food, an interactive exhibit will illustrate links in the supply chain where food gets lost. The SAVE FOOD exhibit will make its U.S. debut at the show and will be located at the entrance to McCormick Place’s North Hall. The initiative is a joint campaign instituted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Messe Düsseldorf GmbH to fight global food loss. FPSA became the first U.S.-based sponsor two years ago, at PROCESS EXPO 2011.

The interactive display calls attention to the issue of food waste and presents solutions for consideration. It is unacceptable that 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted each year from farm to fork, and SAVE FOOD exists to address this problem. SAVE FOOD is an established platform that will make a difference in feeding the world and foster positive public perceptions of the food industry.

A second display will call attention to the DEFEAT HUNGERSM initiative, a partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) that will culminate at PROCESS EXPO. The charitable campaign began at the FPSA Spring Conference, when the foundation announced its commitment to donate $75,000 to GCFD. Exhibitors have the opportunity to make cash donations as well as ship cases of food to McCormick Place for distribution to the food bank.

Both the association and the foundation are committed to giving back to the community, and this initiative underscores that commitment. We are overwhelmed by the number of PROCESS EXPO exhibitors who have rallied around DEFEAT HUNGER to make a difference for the 860,000 food-insecure individuals in the greater Chicago area.

Please join us in Chicago Nov. 3-6. I know you’ll walk away with new ideas and a resolve to make a difference in your world.