Foods Webinar | Pathways to Transformation in Agri-Food Systems: From Consumer Choice to Producer Innovation
Foods Webinar | Pathways to Transformation in Agri-Food Systems: From Consumer Choice to Producer Innovation
Part of the MDPI Foods Webinars series
21 July 2026
Agri-food systems, consumer choice, producer innovation, food safety, food processing, food engineering, risk communication, consumer behavior, sustainable food systems
Welcome from the Chair
11th Foods Webinar
Pathways to Transformation in Agri-Food Systems: From Consumer Choice to Producer Innovation
Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, and welcome to this Foods special issue webinar, "Pathways to Transformation in Agri-Food Systems: From Consumer Choice to Producer Innovation." It is my pleasure to host today's session and to bring together colleagues whose work spans consumer choice, food safety behavior, food engineering, and processing innovation. This webinar is connected with the Foods Special Issue "Pathways to Transformation in Agri-Food Systems: From Consumer Choice to Producer Innovation." Today's speakers will share perspectives on how consumer needs, safety expectations, and producer innovation can jointly shape more resilient, sustainable, and trustworthy agri-food systems. After the presentations, we will have time for Q&A and discussion. Thank you to our speakers, attendees, and the MDPI Foods team for supporting this webinar.
Date: 21 July 2026
Time: 11:00 am EDT | 5:00 pm CEST
Webinar ID: 898 3571 8086
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Event Chairs
Dr. Yaohua "Betty" Feng is an Associate Professor and Food Safety Extension Specialist in the Department of Food Science at Purdue University. Her research and Extension program focuses on human factors in food safety, risk communication, food safety education, and behavior change among consumers and food handlers. She leads interdisciplinary projects using surveys, qualitative methods, eye-tracking, virtual reality, and AI tools to understand decision-making and improve food safety communication across the food system.
Keynote Speakers
Department of Food Science and Technology, The Ohio State University, OH, USA
Food Engineering and Processing Innovations for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems
Prof. Dr. Jen-Yi Huang is the Dale A. Seiberling Endowed Professor of Food Engineering in the Department of Food Science and Technology at The Ohio State University, with a joint appointment in Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering. His research advances food engineering and process innovation, including fluid flow, mixing, and food processing systems that improve efficiency, quality, and sustainability in food production.
ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Consumer Food Safety Behavior and Risk Communication in Transforming Food Systems
Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Redmond is Professor of Food Safety, Health and Behaviour at the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on consumer food safety behavior, risk communication, domestic and foodservice food safety practices, and interventions to reduce foodborne illness risk. Her work combines microbiological, observational, and behavioral approaches to understand food handling and improve public health outcomes.
Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Advanced Processing Technologies and Producer Innovation in Agri-Food Systems
Prof. Dr. Juming Tang is Chair of the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering and Frank Jungers Endowed Chair in Engineering at the University of Washington. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. His research focuses on food dehydration, advanced thermal processing using microwave and radio-frequency energy, pathogen control in low-moisture foods, and nonchemical post-harvest pest control.
Registration
This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Program
|
Speaker/Presentation |
Time in EDT |
Time in CEST |
|
Dr. Yaohua Feng Welcome and Introduction: Pathways to Transformation in Agri-Food Systems |
11:00-11:10 am |
5:00- 5:10 pm |
|
Prof. Dr. Jen-Yi Huang Food Engineering and Processing Innovations for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems |
11:10-11:30 am |
5:10-5:30 pm |
|
Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Redmond Consumer Food Safety Behavior and Risk Communication in Transforming Food Systems |
11:30-11:50 am |
5:30 - 5:50 pm |
|
Prof. Dr. Juming Tang Advanced Processing Technologies and Producer Innovation in Agri-Food Systems |
11:50 am-12:10 pm |
5:50 - 6:10 pm |
|
Q&A |
12:10-12:25 pm |
6:10 - 6:25 pm |
|
Dr. Yaohua Feng Closing of Webinar |
12:25-12:30 pm |
6:25 - 6:30 pm |
Relevant Special Issue
Pathways to Transformation in Agri-Food Systems: From Consumer Choice to Producer Innovation
Guest Editor: Dr. Yaohua Feng
Guest Editor Assistant: Dr. Han Chen
Deadline for Submission: 20 September 2026
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
