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Collaborate to Innovate

Wednesday, June 25th
8:00am – 4:30pm

Rutgers University College Avenue Student Center
126 College Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Join the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University at the third annual NJ FoodTech 2025 on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025. It will be a full day of conversation, collaboration, and networking with New Jersey’s leading food tech businesses, innovators, and investors. Leaders will come together to share their insights, discuss opportunities, and identify future partners.

Sign up for our NJ Food Tech 2025 email list to get updates on speakers, the day’s agenda, and more.

Sponsored by

Agenda

8:00 – 9:00am	Registration & breakfast networking
9:00 – 9:15am	Program Introduction: Sho Islam Opening and Introductory Remarks: S. Castor, Jim Oehmke
9:15 – 9:45am	Keynote address
9:45 – 10:30am	Panel 1: The Innovation Plate: Public-Private Partnerships within New Jersey’s Food Industry Ecosystem  Moderator: Kalindi Bakshi PhD Panelists Judith Sheft, Executive Director, Commission for Science Innovation and Technology Nolan Lewin, Executive Director, Rutgers University Food Innovation Center Toral Goradia, Founder & CEO, TORA Chai Focus: Discussion on support from public agencies fostering innovation and state level support to the industry.
10:30 – 11:00 AM	Refreshments and Networking
11:00 – 11:40 AM	Panel 2: Supporting Growth: How Retailers and Food Distributors Can Enable Food Manufacturer’s Success   Moderator:  Juan Salinas PhD Panelists:  Andrew Kent, EVP President, Glass Gardens Shoprite John Lawson, Senior Forager, Whole Foods Mark Eggerding, VP Innovation, US Foods Topics: Mutual growth strategies, scaling operations, joint product launches, and managing operational challenges.
11:40 – 12:20 PM	Panel 3:  Innovating Wellness: Collaborations Powering the Functional Food & Beverage Boom Moderator: Dr Mukund Karwe, PhD, Distinguished Professor, Food Science Panelists:  Tommy Lauterbach, Associate Category Director- Business Unit Health- Health, Taste and Nutrition, Symrise Jeffery Zaho, Co-Founder, CEO, Notitia Biotechnologies   Brian Choi, CFA, Managing Partner/CEO, The Food Institute
12:20 – 01:30 PM	Remarks: Grassi Lunch and Networking
1:30 – 2:05 PM	Afternoon Program Introduction and Emcee: Craig Peck   Fireside Chat: Investment Trends and Market Outlook Panelists: Tom Mastrobuouni and Wesley Wilson
2:05 – 3:00 PM	Roundtable Discussions: Tom Mastrobuouni, Big Idea Ventures Generation Food Rural Partners Fund collaboration with universities, including Rutgers, to discover applications for intellectual property and license those for commercialization. Danielle DeFilippis Legal protections to facilitate Innovation and Collaboration Grassi FIC Craig Peck NJEDA Doyin Ashiru Middlesex County Joe Liberato
3:00 – 3:05 PM	Closing Remarks Nolan Lewin
3:05 – 4:30 PM	Networking Reception sponsored by Berjé

2025 Steering Committee

Supporting organizations

A few highlights from 2024