Patterson named IFST president
The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) has elected Professor Margaret Patterson as its new president.
Professor Patterson is a food microbiologist at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Belfast, and serves on the scientific advisory committee of Safefood – a body that promotes food safety throughout North and south Ireland.
She has also been seconded to the International Atomic Energy Agency as a food safety expert, and carried out food safety training for the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agricultural Organisation.
“I am delighted to have been elected IFST president and am looking forward to working with the IFST team and members,” says Margaret. “We need to do more to raise awareness of food science and technology, and emphasise the critical role it plays in ensuring the food we eat is reliably safe and nutritious.”
“Issues such as the recent horsemeat scandal, for example, will inevitably affect the image of the sector and possibly impact on our ability to attract new talent. This means we will need to work doubly hard to ensure we encourage young people to consider careers in food science and technology.”
