Students from the Food Engineering research group recently participated in the Canadian Food Engineering Conference (CFEC), held April 24–25, 2025, at the University of Guelph. The event brought together researchers, professionals, and students to discuss current challenges and emerging technologies in the field.
The group was well-represented by Dr. Juveria Siddiqui, Research Associate, and PhD candidates Christiana Anih, Aiman Fatima and Diana Teichman. Dr. Siddiqui and Fatima delivered oral presentations, while Teichman contributed a poster presentation, showcasing the diverse range of work being conducted in the Food Engineering lab.
Fatima noted the strong interest from attendees: “I received a lot of appreciation from the audience during our presentation. It was encouraging to see the audience engaged and interested in our work, which made the experience even more meaningful.”
The conference featured several keynote presentations, including a highlight session on the role of artificial intelligence in addressing contemporary issues in food engineering. Discussions focused on the future potential of AI-driven solutions and their impact on innovation in the sector.
Professor Levente Diosady, who leads the Food Engineering group, emphasized the conference’s value for research and professional development: “The CFEC is an excellent meeting for my group. It provides networking opportunities between different research groups and offers an overview of the research priorities of Canadian food science and engineering researchers. It also provides contacts for eventual job searches for our people and identifies potential collaborators. The fact that it is close and therefore relatively inexpensive made it possible to send more of our group.”
Reflecting on the experience, Fatima noted the importance of these interactions: “The most rewarding part was connecting with experts in food engineering, expanding my network, and receiving valuable feedback that can help improve my work.”
She underscored the importance of attending conferences like CFEC: “They help me stay updated on new developments, build professional networks, and explore opportunities for collaboration and career growth.”
The Department congratulates Dr. Siddiqui and PhD candidates Anih, Fatima and Teichman on their excellent contributions to the conference and thanks them for representing U of T’s research community.