SDT & IFST Scottish Regional Meeting - Digital Technologies

Date: 
Wednesday, 2 September, 2026 - 12:30 to 17:00
Location: 
Digital Process Manufacturing Centre, 3 Riverside Way, Irvine KA11 5DJ

This event is organised by IFST Scotland Branch and The Society of Dairy Technology and is only open to IFST members.

The Society of Dairy Technology (SDT) and the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST) are pleased to announce a joint Scottish Regional Meeting on the theme of Digital Technologies in Food Manufacturing, with a particular focus on the growing role of Artifical Intelligence (AI) within the food and dairy sectors. The event will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 2nd September at the Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC), North Ayrshire. 

The meeting will explore how AI and other digital technologies are being applied across food manufacturing to improve efficiency, quality, sustainability and decision making. Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from industry experts, learn about emerging innovations, take part in a tour of the DPMC facilities and network with professionals from across the sector. 

The event is free to attend and welcomes members of both organisations, as well as non-members working within the dairy and wider food industries. Due to the venue capacity, registration is essential and must be completed via the booking link. 

Lunch will be provided, kindly sponsored by Tvarit. 

An optional evening meal will be held at a local hotel following the event, providing furhter opportunity for networking and discussion. Further details on the evening meal will be released soon. 

Programme:

12:30 – 13:30

Registration & Lunch

 

Sponsored by Tvarit

13:30 – 13:45

Welcome from IFST & SDT

 

Rachel Mirfattahi & Chris Hay

13:45 – 14:00

Welcome from DPMC

 

John Harman

14:00 – 14:30

Tvarit presentation

Suhas Patel

14:30 – 15:00

Tvarit Dairy AI Demo - Yield, Quality & Process Optimization

Vibhuti Vyas & Tom Gust

15:00 – 15:15

Break

 

15:15 – 16:00

Tour of DPMC

 

DPMC team

16:00 – 16:15

Digitalisation of a Manufacturing Site

 

Kendal Nutricare – Jodie Pennicott / Ryan Booth

16:15 – 16:30

Next Steps with DPMC/Digital Dairy Chain

 

John Harman / Rachel Mirfattahi

 

 

16:30 – 16:35

Closing Remarks

Chris Hay

18.00 – 20.00

Optional – meal in Irvine