During the day, students from Cohort 12 gave flash presentations to showcase part of their master’s thesis work. These presentations were grouped according to the university where each student completed their thesis: starting with Food Design Engineering (AgroParisTech), followed by Healthy Food Design (UNINA), and Food Packaging and Logistics (Lund University).

The day began with a welcome speech by Barbara Rega, coordinator of the FIPDes programme. Then, we had the first keynote of the day, delivered by Jenny Schelin (Lund University), who offered a concise yet comprehensive look at what we might find on our plates in the future. She discussed projected food trends toward 2050, emphasizing plant-based proteins, microproteins, the potential of algae, and emerging technologies.

The first session was led by Marwen Moussa (AgroParisTech) and featured guest speaker Emmanuel Bernuau (AgroParisTech). He presented how digital technologies—such as digital twins—can provide innovative solutions to current challenges in the food system. Afterward, students from the Food Design Engineering track presented their thesis projects.

The second session was presented by Paola Vitaglione (UNINA) and featured Kurt Callaghan (Ingredion Incorporated, USA). He encouraged us to reflect on new trends in sugar-reduced beverages and explained how companies are navigating and succeeding in such a competitive market. Following his talk, students from the Healthy Food Design track presented their research.

The third session was organized by the FIPDA (FIPDes Alumni) committee and highlighted the value of this global network. It was truly inspiring to see how the community continues to grow, fostering collaboration and professional development among alumni worldwide. The committee also presented several of their recent initiatives, including job and internship opportunities shared via alumni channels, and the launch of the first FIPDA Job Search Toolkit.

Midday, we enjoyed an international lunch, which also served as the perfect opportunity to explore the scientific posters presented by the graduates.

Later in the day, a session presented by Lars Palm (Lund University) featured guest speaker Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth (Lund University). She offered valuable insights into how technology can empower consumers by providing clearer and more detailed information about product composition. Interestingly, she highlighted that this technology is not limited to the food sector—it can also be applied in industries such as textiles.

The last session was presented by Anna Cruickshank (TU Dublin), who introduced Margaret Connolly (TU Dublin). She spoke about consumer behaviour, market trends, and their impacts. She shared the example of “Dubai Chocolate”—not just a chocolate bar, but a powerful case study of how personal storytelling and creative branding can influence consumer perception in today’s digital-first world.

The day concluded with an award ceremony for the best poster and best flash presentation. We then had the opportunity to engage with students from Cohort 12 and learn more about their research during the final poster session—accompanied by a farewell cocktail.