CIFST - Manitoba

04/17/2026

🚀 Celebrating the Future of Science in Manitoba! 🔬✨

The 2026 Manitoba Schools Science Symposium (MSSS)—the largest annual science event for students in Manitoba—once again brought together an inspiring community of young innovators from Grades 4 to 12 at the University of Manitoba’s Max Bell Fieldhouse.

Now in its 55th year (April 10–12, 2026), MSSS continues to be a powerful platform where curiosity meets creativity, and where the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers shine.

The CIFST was proud to participate in this incredible event, contributing to the evaluation and recognition of outstanding student research alongside a dedicated panel of volunteer judges.

🏆 This year’s highlights:
✨ 19 special awards presented
✨ Supported by 10 generous sponsors
✨ Outstanding projects tackling real-world challenges through science and innovation

👏 A sincere thank you to all volunteer judges—your time, expertise, and commitment are essential to making this event possible and impactful for every student involved.

From innovative engineering designs to meaningful environmental research, the level of talent, creativity, and passion on display was truly remarkable. The energy throughout the symposium was inspiring—filled with ideas, discovery, and a shared excitement for the future.

🌟 MSSS is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of young minds, a catalyst for innovation, and a reminder that the future of STEM is already in motion.

04/08/2026

Join us for the CIFST Manitoba Agri-Food and Public Health Inspection Evening on May 28, 2026, a great chance to connect, learn, and network with professionals in the food and public health sectors.

🗓 Thursday, May 28
🕠 5:45 PM – 7:45 PM
📍 Eat on Samosa (Momo Paradize), 460 St Mary’s Road

Meet our panelists:
• Dr. Navjot Virdi
• Melissa Sanders
• Raegan Stockton

Enjoy a panel discussion, dinner, and networking with Manitoba’s agri-food community. The evening will also include our AGM (members only), but everyone is welcome to attend the rest of the event!

💲 Members: $30 | Students: $20 | Non-members: $40

🎟 RSVP by May 26 — don’t miss it!

We hope to see you there! 🙌

04/02/2026

A successful and inspiring Student Career Night at the University of Manitoba!
As part of the IFTSA North Central Regional College Bowl 2026, CIFST proudly organized an engaging event focused on “Food Science Careers in an Evolving World: Trade, Trends, and New Opportunities.”
The evening brought together students, academics, and industry professionals for meaningful conversations around career pathways, industry trends, and emerging opportunities in food science.
We were honored to host an outstanding panel of speakers who shared their experiences and insights, creating a space for learning, connection, and inspiration.
With strong participation and dynamic discussions, the event highlighted the importance of bridging academia and industry to support the next generation of food scientists.
This initiative was part of a broader weekend of activities, including the College Bowl Competition, where students from:
• University of Manitoba
• University of Guelph
• University of Wisconsin–Madison
demonstrated exceptional knowledge, professionalism, and enthusiasm.
A sincere thank you to all speakers, organizers, and participants who made this event impactful.

03/13/2026

We were pleased to represent CIFST Manitoba at the Spoiler Alert Food Safety Summit held on March 5, 2026 in Winnipeg. The one-day event brought together professionals from across the food and beverage sector to discuss current challenges and emerging priorities in food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. Throughout the day, attendees heard presentations and participated in discussions on important topics such as sanitation and biofilm control in food processing environments, food defence and fraud, allergen management, pest management strategies, and preparing for regulatory inspections and audits.

At the CIFST Manitoba booth, we had the opportunity to connect with several industry professionals and share information about CIFST activities and membership opportunities. A common topic of discussion was the potential for CIFST to offer training opportunities that support early-career and new professionals entering the food safety and quality field. We also had a valuable discussion with a representative from a major plant-ingredients manufacturer about the possibility of collaborating with CIFST Manitoba to organize a future facility tour for our members.

Events like the Food Safety Summit play an important role in strengthening Manitoba’s food safety community by creating space for knowledge sharing, professional networking, and collaboration across industry, academia, and regulatory sectors.

03/05/2026

DO YOU GUYS LIKE MONEY? Enter the student quiz challenge for some fun and textbook money!! Treat your significant other to a very fancy dinner just in time for Easter

*1ST PRIZE - $800*
*2ND PRICE - $600*
*3RD PRIZE - $350*

02/23/2026

Thursday, February 19, 20206 afternoon plant tour at La Cocina

We had the pleasure of touring the facility with Jodi Warkentin, Owner, Laura Deveau, FSQA Manager, and Melissa Sanders, Agri-Food Processing Inspectors/Health Officer, Government of Manitoba—all exceptional leaders.

La Cocina is experiencing impressive growth at ~40% year over year, with a facility expanding at an incredible pace.

The operation is hyper-clean and highly efficient. And the highlight? Fiesta Flavour Chips—absolutely delicious fresh off the line.

A wonderful tour overall, and we truly appreciate the warm hospitality.

02/08/2026

🚀 Student Career Night 2026 🚀
Join us for an engaging panel discussion on:
“Career Prospects for Food and Human Nutritional Sciences Students: Opportunities in the Food Industry, Government, and Academia.”
✨ Meet professionals from academia, industry, and government
🍕 Enjoy a pizza dinner (because networking is better with food!)
🤝 Connect with experts and explore career paths in your field
📅 Date: Friday, March 27, 2026
Location: 172 Agriculture Building, University of Manitoba, 66. Dafoe Road West, Winnipeg, MB.
Interested in competitions too?
👉 Find out more about IFT College Bowl 2026

📌 Please RSVP by March 20, 2026
https://lnkd.in/gQDg5hiQ

01/21/2026

🎉 CIFST 2026 Canadian Food Summit – Call for Volunteers 🎉
We’re excited to begin planning the CIFST 2026 Canadian Food Summit, a milestone event celebrating 75 years of advancing food science and technology in Canada.
We’re looking for volunteers to help amplify our outreach by sharing personalized communications with colleagues, departments, and industry contacts. Your support can make a real impact in growing and strengthening our food science community.
Interested in getting involved? Contact Shaina at [email protected] to learn more and receive next steps.
Let’s work together to make CIFST 2026 a success!

11/21/2025

We were honoured to sponsor this year’s RCFTR Food Technology and Research Day, held on November 13, 2025. This annual event serves as a key gathering for food scientists, researchers, students, and industry professionals.
The event brought together experts from across the agri-food sector to explore advancements in food ingredient testing, processing technologies, product applications, and innovative research. Attendees enjoyed presentations from both industry and academic speakers, each sharing valuable insights and real-world perspectives that contribute to the evolving landscape of food science in Canada.
Participants also had the opportunity to:
🔹 Engage in poster sessions highlighting cutting-edge student and faculty research
🔹 Take guided tours of RCFTR’s laboratories and research facilities
🔹 Network with professionals, researchers, and emerging scientists
🔹 Explore new opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry
Events like RCFTR Day play a vital role in strengthening Manitoba’s food science community by fostering innovation, knowledge-sharing, and professional growth.
As CIFST Manitoba, we are proud to support initiatives that:
✨ Encourage scientific excellence and innovation in food research
✨ Promote student development and leadership
✨ Build strong connections across the food industry
✨ Support the continued growth of Manitoba’s agri-food sector
A sincere thank-you to the organizers, presenters, volunteers, students, and all attendees who contributed to the success of this year’s event. Your enthusiasm and dedication continue to advance food science and inspire future leaders in our field.
🔬🌾 We look forward to continuing our support for initiatives that drive innovation and strengthen our food industry.

11/03/2025

The CIFST Manitoba Section successfully launched the 2025/26 Mentorship Program with a Meet and Greet event held on October 23, 2025. This year’s program features 22 mentor–mentee pairings, bringing together professionals and students from across the food industry, government, and academia.

Our mentors represent a diverse range of expertise, including food and biosystems engineering professionals working in industry and public sectors, while our mentees include undergraduate and graduate students, as well as post-doctoral researchers from food and biosystems engineering disciplines. Notably, several mentors are joining us from outside Manitoba and even from the United States, reflecting the program’s expanding reach and connectivity.

During the event, we officially launched the mentorship program and reviewed the current program structure, which will continue to evolve and improve throughout the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 sessions. The evening concluded with lively networking among the mentors and mentees in attendance, as well as successful virtual introductions for our remote participants.

The CIFST Manitoba Section is excited to see the relationships and professional growth that will develop through this year’s program, as mentors and mentees embark on their journeys of career development, learning, and meaningful connection within the food, human nutritional sciences and biosystems engineering community.

11/01/2025

Register for the RCFTR Food Technology and Research Day on Thursday, November 13 @ 100 Innovation Drive

Please RSVP here https://lnkd.in/gcQnmB9a

Agenda includes:
13 speakers from industry, government and academia
48 research posters
Free lunch
CIFST Manitoba sponsored mixer @ 2:45pm
Great networking and learning opportunities
Option to tour RCFTR facilities
Moderated by RCFTR Director Rotimi Aluko

What topics will be discussed?
1. Cold plasma processing
2. Soybean meal valorization
3. Flavouromics and artificial intelligence for improving pan bread applications
4. Lupin as a source of protein
5. Protein digestibility of plant-based meat analogs
6. Moringa as a novel ingredient for plant-based foods
7. CO2 extraction of vegetable oils
8. Creating novel pulse ingredients for today’s consumer
9. Upcycling potato starch
10. Applying Indigenous science for food system innovation
11. Innovating Canada’s cereal crops
12. Extending the shelf-life of meat products
13. Enhancing grain quality by studying the genomic profile of ergot
14. Sub-zero storage and drying of canola
15. Enhancing industry research communication

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

10/08/2025

CIFST Manitoba had the opportunity to tour the Veterinary Diagnostic Services (VDS) Lab on October 2, 2025, exploring its four main areas: Clinical Pathology, Microbiology, Pathology, and Molecular Diagnostics. Participants were introduced to key equipment including the ELISA platforms, series of histopathology tissue processors and microscopes, PCR, thermocycler, sequencers and MALDI-TOF, gaining insight into the lab’s advanced testing capabilities. Dr. Neil Pople’s expertise made the tour especially engaging, as he shared how the VDS Lab plays a vital role in supporting animal welfare and ensuring food safety across Manitoba and Canada’s agriculture sector.