Dr. Liz Sloan, who has kept a close eye on functional food and beverage trends for decades, shares her take on what’s ahead for this market in the year ahead. Dr. Lara Ramdin, widely known as the Upcycling Queen, talks to Omnivore about how upcycling not only reduces food waste but also offers a chance to enhance nutrition accessibility, support circular economies, and provide sustainable solutions to food insecurity. Huy Nguyen, chief education and career development advisor at Intelligent.com, discusses what Generation Z brings to the workforce and how mentorship can help build strong bridges between the generations. 

Plus: This episode of Omnivore is brought to you by IFT FIRST–Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology. Join food system professionals at McCormick Place in Chicago, July 13-16, 2025, for the industry’s premier event connecting innovation, science, and business. Learn more at iftevent.org.