Process Expo’s education program, known as Process Expo University, will feature more than 40 sessions directed by expert speakers from 10 of the top universities with expertise in particular segments of the industry. For example, two speakers from Kansas State University will lead bakery-focused segments during the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA)-sponsored trade show to be held Nov. 3-6 at McCormick Place, Chicago. It will take place in the North and South halls.

On Nov. 5, KSU Prof. Dave Krishock will speak on “The Prime Ingredient in Proper Processing — Millennials on the Line?” Later that day, Sherrill Cropper, a doctoral student in KSU’s Department of Grain Science and Industry, will discuss “Lipid Functionality in Yeast Doughs.” And this represents just a small sampling of the free education program that will be held on the show floor. For a complete listing of sessions, visit www.myprocessexpo.com/education.

FPSA recently announced it surpassed the 200,000-sq-ft milestone for the once-every-two-years trade show. “With key additions to the show such as co-location with the International Dairy Show and the North American Meat Association (NAMA) Outlook Conference, Process Expo is clearly the place to be this fall for the food and beverage industry,” said Jeff Dahl, FPSA chairman and business manager of JBT FoodTech, Chicago. “Exhibit space sales have been very strong, ­especially since the start of the year as suppliers are rushing to be a part of what they know will be a huge draw for the food and beverage industry.”

Process Expo attendees will also have free access to the International Dairy Show floor and sessions in the NAMA Outlook Conference.

Fighting food loss

Making its US debut at the show will be the Save Food exhibit, which will be located at the North Hall entrance. Save Food is a joint campaign instituted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Messe Düsseldorf GmbH to fight global food loss. While Process Expo exhibitors demonstrate innovative ­methods for making food, this exhibit will visualize at which stage of the value chain food gets lost.

The interactive display calls out the issue of food waste and presents solutions for consideration. Photos, graphics and videos will educate visitors about global food waste in an engaging way. In the best practice area, businesses and organizations present innovative approaches to solving problems relating to food loss.

 “It is unacceptable that 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted each year from ‘farm to fork,’ and Save Food ­exists to address this problem,” said David Seckman, president and CEO of FPSA. “Save Food is an established platform that will make a difference in feeding the world and foster positive public perceptions of the food industry. As an association, FPSA is behind the initiative 100%, and we are encouraging our members to become sponsors as well.”

Through Save Food’s outreach, processing equipment manufacturers can also join the fight by helping raise awareness of the sanitary processing standards their equipment provides. Sanitation features in processing equipment ensure that the product is compliant before it goes into the package, extending its shelf life and reducing food waste.

The list of FPSA members signing up to support the campaign is growing, and these sponsors will be recognized during an event at 1 p.m., Nov. 4, in the Save Food exhibit. Learn more about the exclusive Save Food exhibit at www.save-food.org.

Battling hunger

In the months leading up to the show, FPSA, the FPSA Foundation and exhibiting companies have been raising funds, food and awareness to fight hunger, as part of the Defeat Hunger initiative.

The charitable campaign began at the FPSA spring conference when the foundation announced its commitment to donate $75,000 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD). Exhibitors can make cash donations as well as ship cases of food along with their booth to McCormick Place for distribution to the food bank.

“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,” said Barry Shoulders, chairman of the FPSA Foundation. 

A display at McCormick Place will demonstrate the sheer volume of exhibitor-contributed cases of food that have been donated through the campaign, and the FPSA Foundation will present the $75,000 donation to the GCFD at 1 p.m., Nov. 5, in front of the display.  To learn more about this campaign, go to www.fpsa.org/defeathunger.

Process Expo is held biannually to keep pace with the major technology changes that impact the food industry, and exhibitors receive unlimited free passes to give to their customers.