Binsted Lecture 2026: Leveraging AI in New Product Development and ensuring Food Safety and Quality

Price: 
IFST Member - £10, Non-members - £100
Date: 
Thursday, 12 February, 2026 - 18:00 to 21:00
Location: 
Food and Drink Federation, 6th Floor, 10 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2SL

This event is a collaboration between IFST, IFT British Section, the Food and Drink Federation, and Campden BRI. 

President of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) will be delivering the lecture as part of an evening reception at the Food and Drink Federation Headquarters.

All attendees will receive a CPD certificate, which you will be able to add to your CPD record on the IFST system.

The Binsted Lecture always presents a unique opportunity to meet and connect with experienced food sector professionals and grow your network, and we are proud of how inclusive our ecosystem continues to be. Raymond Binsted was one of the founders of IFT and of the IFT British Section in 1939.  Raymond was very keen on inviting distinguished US scientists to speak at UK meetings; this annual Lecture is part of his legacy.

Did you know that this event is discounted for IFST members? Join IFST today to save £90 on your ticket to this event. If you need some more time to think about it, contact us in the next 30 days and let us know that you've joined as a member, and we'll deduct £90 from your membership fee for your first year. Click here to become a member. 

Speaker:

Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Poole, IFT President

Peggy recently retired as vice president of the Tea Division for Bigelow Tea Company, based in Fairfield, Connecticut. Bigelow Tea is the market leader in the Specialty Tea category, and she was responsible for R&D, quality, and tea/ingredient procurement. Peggy has more than 40 years of experience in the food industry at companies that include Leprino Foods, HP Hood LLC, Kraft Foods, and Häagen-Dazs. She has held leadership positions in research and development, technical/regulatory affairs, and quality assurance and has been responsible for leading both quality and R&D initiatives, resulting in the introduction of numerous new products such as Simply Smart milks; Peak Treasures Premium Ice Creams; Carb Countdown dairy beverages, yogurts, smoothies, and juice beverages; Oscar Mayer’s “Hotwiches”; and Häagen-Dazs’ Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond Ice Cream Bar and Deep Chocolate Peanut Butter pints.

Fees:

£10 - IFST / FDF members / Campden BRI members / IFT British Section members

£100 - Non-members

Programme:

18:00

Registration and Refreshments

18:30

Introductions

18:40

Binsted Lecture "Leveraging AI in New Product Development and ensuring Food Safety and Quality" followed by Q&As

Dr Margaret Poole, IFT President

19:40

Updates from IFT British Section and IFST

20:00

Networking and Drinks Reception

21:00

End

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