International Union of Food Science & Technology

Introduction: The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST), a country-membership organisation is the global voice of food science and technology. It is a voluntary, non-profit federation of national food science organisations linking the world's food scientists and technologists.

IUFoST promotes the advancement of global food science and technology through its education programmes, workshops, regional symposia and through IAFoST the International Academy of Food Science and Technology.

IUFoST fosters the worldwide exchange of scientific knowledge and ideas through the biennial World Congress, IAFoST, three scientific journals, an on-line journal and regular Scientific Information Bulletins.

IUFoST aims to strengthen food science and technology's role in helping secure the world's food supply and eliminate world hunger by delivering programs such as distance education, workshops and integrated food systems targetted to these needs.

At the 1995 world congress, IUFoST publicly committed itself in its Budapest Declaration, which opened 'We declare our determination to work for the elimination of hunger and the reduction of all forms of malnutrition through the world.'

In August 2010, The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) released its outline plan of work for the global food science and technology community. Known as the Cape Town Declaration, its principles were unanimously accepted by delegates to the XIIIth General Assembly of IUFoST during its world congress held in South Africa. The IUFoST General Assembly re-affirmed its commitment made in the Budapest Declaration in which IUFoST recognises the indispensable role of food science and technology in achieving the aim of eliminating food security worldwide. Essential to the Cape Town Declaration is the right of every individual to have access to adequate and safe food. IUFoST members, who are the national scientific organisations worldwide working within the Union, outlined the primary areas of work for food scientists, technologists and engineers in the Cape Town Declaration:

- Promotion of the safety and quality of all foods;
- Reduction of physical and nutritional losses in the food value chain;
- Adaptation and improvement of traditional foods and processes, while respecting the traditional, ethical, cultural and religious aspects involved;
- Beneficial application of science and technology
- Development and dissemination of improved knowledge of food composition;
- Facilitation of domestic and international food trade;
- Development of food materials with improved functionality;
- More efficient and environmentally sustainable food production, processing and packaging;
- Education in nutrition, food science and technology at all levels

The General Assembly, which represents over 300,000 food scientists, technologists and engineers from more than 70 countries, is committed to implementing the principles of the Cape Town Declaration. It will re-assemble at each congress to agree priorities, actions and deliverables.