Laurent Dallaire is the CEO and co-founder of Innodal, a company dedicated to developing and producing for various sectors and offers innovative solutions to inhibit microbiological pathogens. With a background in biotechnological engineering from the University of Sherbrooke and a master’s degree in food science from Laval University as part of the METABIOLAC industrial chair, Laurent combines technical expertise with entrepreneurial vision. Following his academic journey, he founded Innodal to address food safety challenges with innovative, science-backed solutions. His work focuses on bridging the gap between academic research and practical applications in the food industry, helping manufacturers improve safety, extend shelf life, and reduce recalls.

Episode Takeaways

• Why collaboration between academia and industry fuels practical innovation
• The significance of FDA approval and educating the industry on food safety
• Challenges of transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship
• How new technologies can combat persistent food safety issues
• Insights into balancing research, regulation, and market needs

Show Notes 

Things mentioned in this episode:

This week’s episode is sponsored by:

• CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Food Safety Innovation 02:01 The Science Behind Innodelle's Antimicrobial Solutions 05:50 Targeting Listeria: A Game Changer in Food Safety 10:10 Bridging the Gap: From Research to Market 15:27 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Starting Innodelle 22:06 The Importance of Marketing in Science 25:29 Building a Team: The Role of Food Scientists 33:19 Current Applications and Future Potential 39:24 Educating the Industry on Food Safety 45:18 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

 

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

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🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SAY THANKS

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🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

 

Matt Thell is a Global Strategy & Innovation Leader at General Mills Inc. General Mills Inc. is the creator of iconic brands like Cheerios, Pillsbury and Häagen-Dazs. Matt is a member of an internal consultancy team that helps teams within his organization tackle challenges and seize opportunities. His career journey spans over two decades, beginning with product development roles for beloved snacks like Chex Mix and Gardettos and evolving into strategic roles that focus on front-end innovation.

🔍 Episode Highlights:

• Matt shares insights into his role as a strategic consultant within General Mills
• How Matt uses the I3 process to solve-problems
• Why curiosity and diverse experiences fuel creativity
• Tips on understanding team dynamics and timing idea sharing

Show Notes

Matt's  / LinkedIn 

General Mills / Website /

 

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction (00:58) Matt explains what Sr. Strategy Manager does (04:56) Matt's I3 Process (09:47) Case study: Old Paso in Europe (15:00) Turning insights into action (20:13) Navigating challenges in research (22:08) Creating a supportive team environment (30:55) How to find ways to share ideas (34:27) Why curiosity is important (38:12) Matt's advice for interviews

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

📸 Connect on Instagram

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SAY THANKS

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

This podcast marks the 100th episode of the FoodGrads Podcast!

The podcast began in September 2020 and since then we have produced 100 episodes!

The success this show has had and continues to build is all because of YOU. You listening, supporting, and sharing the show. We thank you for the support.

To celebrate this achievement we are re-branding the the podcast to That's a Food Job! We wanted a fresh new look (and name) for the podcast.

We’re here to celebrate food industry professionals and proudly say—That's a Food Job!

In this episode Veronica Hislop is joined with Sydney Mohr and Nicole Gallace both team members from the FoodGrads team.

So in this episode, we talk about how the podcast came to be, highlights from past episodes of the show, the behind the scenes of the podcast, some of the most memorable guests in the first 100 episodes, and the unveiling of the new assets for the rebrand!

Show Notes

 

TIMESTAMPS

(0:00) Introduction

(9:50) FoodGrads Podcast Rebrand

(21:45) Looking at older intros of the podcast

(37:00) Reflecting on the iterations

(45:09) Behind the scenes of making the podcast

(50:00) Listener Q&A

 

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

📸 Connect on Instagram

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SAY THANKS

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

Joesph Lyons is the Environmental Operations Coordinator for Susgrainable. Susgrainable has a bold mission to create a world where food waste and diabetes are a thing of the past. Right now they are producing a variety of baking mixes but they are looking to expand in the future.   Joseph with Honours from The University of British Columbia with a BCom specialized in Global Supply Chain & Logistics Management. Joesph is fairly new out of graduation but he has done a lot since he started at Susgrainable. In just 9 months he has helped build tools to track stock, built relationships with industry partners and he even has laid down the company’s groundwork for ERP.

🔍 Episode Highlights:

• Behind the scenes with Susgrainable 

• What Joseph does in his role 

• What a circular economy is

• Skills that Joseph is currently working on

Show Notes

Joseph's  / LinkedIn 

Susgrainable / Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

 

TIMESTAMPS

(1:15) Joseph’s food job

(2:55) How Joseph got into this role

(5:30) What is supply chain

(7:00) Susgrainable’s supply chain

(9:22) Joseph’s role in operations

(10:20) Launching a snack pretzel

(17:15) Coordinating Susgrainable’s supply chain

(23:15) How Joseph got into supply chain

(26:57) What Joseph likes about supply chain

(32:42) Communication in supply chain roles

(37:06) Why Susgrainable is a good place to work

(38:21) Skills Joseph is working on

(45:26) Advice for going into the supply chain

 

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

📸 Connect on Instagram

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SPONSORS

CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.

 

SAY THANKS

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

Seamus Higgins is the Associate Professor & Course Director for Food Process Engineering at the University of Nottingham. With years of food industry experience, he combines his passion for a more sustainable world and novel manufacturing techniques with a new generation of process engineers at the University of Nottingham and supporting institutions. 

Seamus began his career as an electrical engineer in the food industry and has worked with leading international food companies including Tongaat Hewlett, Nestle, and Premier Foods. He has held lead project and senior management roles in factory development, food process engineering, and new product development, and has also consulted for global food and UK companies as well as entrepreneur development and new company start-ups.

🔍 Episode Highlights:

• Understanding the concept of food

• Evolution of the food system

• Adapting to change management

• Exploring the role of a food engineer

Show Notes

Seamus's  / LinkedIn / Research Gate 

 

TIMESTAMPS

(0:00) Introduction

(1:40) What is the food?

(4:50) Seamus’s food job

(9:30) What is a food engineer

(13:20) How Seamus got into engineering

(19:00) Evolution of the food system

(26:05) How food technologies have changed

(30:00) Learning how to manage change

(40:21)  What is exciting Seamus about the industry

(51:40) Seamus’s new book

 

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

📸 Connect on Instagram

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SPONSORS

Canadian Food Innovation Network:  Check out CFIN’s Career Hub to learn more about CFIN’s free membership, their Food Innovator Career Hub, and how can you can join the fastest growing food business community in the country. 

 

SAY THANKS

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

Dana Dickerson is the Market Development and Sustainability Manager at Grain Farmers of Ontario. Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. Her food job is working to expand markets and encourage new uses for Ontario grain through consumer awareness, domestic industry and export development and end-user relationships.

Prior to her role with Grain Farmers of Ontario, Dana spent eight years at the British Consulate-General, where she held leadership positions, including North American Head of Sector for Consumer Goods and Agri-Food. In this role, she led the UK's strategy to develop agri-food exports to Canada and the U.S. Dana holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce with a major in International Business and a minor in French language from Lakehead University.

🔍 Episode Highlights:  • What a market development and sustainability manager does • Learning how to communicate on behalf of an industry • Facts about Ontario Grain  • Oppotunities in agricculture that aren't farming 

Show Notes

Dana's  / LinkedIn / Twitter / Instagram

Grain Farmers of Ontario / Website / LinkedIn / Twitter

TIMESTAMPS

(0:00) Introduction  (2:09) What Dana does (2:39) Facts about Ontario  grain  (5:44) What Dana does at Grain Farmers of Ontario (9:15) How to communicate on behalf an industry (10:12) Dana's career journey  (19:00) How Dana learns on the job (22:00) Surprises for foreign delegates  (23:15)Technology in grain agriculture  (29:25)Tech jobs in agriculture  (35:37) Where are the jobs located (38:40) Using school resources (40:40) Sustainable practices Ontario farmers are implementing (46:00) Advice for students  (48:00) Where to find Dana

 

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

📸 Connect on Instagram

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SPONSORS

Canadian Food Innovation Network:  Check out CFIN’s Career Hub to learn more about CFIN’s free membership, their Food Innovator Career Hub, and how can you can join the fastest growing food business community in the country. 

 

SAY THANKS

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

AJ Taylor, Ph.D. is a Scientist II, Innovation at McCormick FONA who recently graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign with a Ph.D. in food science where his research focused on understanding the physiochemical and microbiological aspects of cocoa bean fermentation. This research is looking at ways to understand how microbes affect the quality and flavour profile of the resulting chocolate.

Obtaining a Ph.D. was a rewarding but challenging experience for AJ. In addition to his research AJ acted as a  graduate teaching assistant who helped to teach food science to students. 

Today he works at McCormick FONA teaching clients about working better with flavours covering everything from the science behind flavour, the labeling landscape, to using flavor in your specific application.

🔍 Episode Highlights: • AJ's research  • The unlikely experience that led to AJ getting a job  • Day in the life of a PhD • Transitioning between grad school and industry

Show Notes

AJ's  / LinkedIn

McCormick FONA

 

TIMESTAMPS

(0:00) Introduction (1:34) AJ introduces himself (2:50) What AJ did in graduate school (12:15) Dealing with setbacks  (15:46) Process of getting a project  (20:50) Day in the life of PhD (27:00) What is being a TA  (37:50) Transition between acadamia and industry  (40:39) Standing out from the crowd (48:00) Where to find AJ  (48:33) Outro

 

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

📸 Connect on Instagram

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SAY THANKS

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

Brendan Niemira, PhD is a Lead Scientist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. He leads a team of 30+ scientists, engineers, technicians, postdocs, and students in Wyndmoor, PA., developing tools to kill human pathogens on produce, meats, poultry, shellfish, and other foods. However, his focus and passion are developing and validating cold plasma, high-intensity monochromatic light, irradiation, and other nonthermal food safety treatments for fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.

Dr. Niemira has published over 180 peer-reviewed research articles, book chapters, and critical reviews. He is the co-editor and author of a well-regarded reference text and holds two patents.

🔍 Episode Highlights: • What Brendan does as a lead scientist • Why plasma could be a game changer for food safety  • Growing your career through food organizations 

Show Notes

Brendan's  / LinkedIn  

USDA Agricultural Research Service

Cold Plasma + Oranges

TIMESTAMPS

(0:00) Introduction (1:04) Dr. Niemira introduces himself (1:55) How Niemira progressed into Cold Plasma (5:27) What a lead researcher does at the ARS (9:40) What is cold plasma (17:05) How to implement cold plasma (23:23) How to justify research? (29:08) Commercialization of cold plasma (31:57) Cost of the system (41:24) Growth opportunities (45:46) IFT Opportunities (53:22) Advice for students going into food safety

 

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

📸 Connect on Instagram

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SPONSORS

Canadian Food Innovation Network:  Check out CFIN’s Career Hub to learn more about CFIN’s free membership, their Food Innovator Career Hub, and how can you can join the fastest growing food business community in the country. 

 

SAY THANKS

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

Michael Sharp is the director of research and analytics at the Heartland Food Products Group. The Heartland Food Products Group is a global leader in making low-calorie sweeteners and liquid water enhancers. It is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and makes Splenda Sweeteners.

 Michael has over 13 years of experience in research and development, leading new products from concept to commercialization. He graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor's degree in food science and a master's degree from Ohio State University.

🔍 Episode Highlights:  • What a Research and Development Director does • The different kinds of R&D roles • Michael’s career journey • Advice for product development research interviews

Show Notes

Michael's  / LinkedIn

TIMESTAMPS

(0:00) Introduction (1:33) Michael's introduction (11:15) Why Michael decided to get a master's degree (12:50) Differences between product development and R&D (16:45) Michael's research process (22:20) Where Michael learned about data analytics (24:10) Basic tools of data analysis (26:40) Difference between small and large labs (29:20) Sponsor: CFIN (30:10) Transitioning from work to school (31:50) How to identify your skills (33:45) Michael's extra-curriculars during school (37:00) Technologies that are interesting to Michael (42:25) Advice for students looking to go into R&D

 

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

📸 Connect on Instagram

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SPONSORS

Canadian Food Innovation Network:  Check out CFIN’s Career Hub to learn more about CFIN’s free membership, their Food Innovator Career Hub, and how can you can join the fastest growing food business community in the country. 

 

SAY THANKS

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., founder of Food Safety Strategy and former Chief Food Safety & Regulatory Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association. She is a food microbiologist by background and has worked in the Washington, DC, area for over 20 years, bringing the scientific perspective to food safety leadership positions within the grocery manufacturers association. She held previous food safety leadership positions with the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Institute of Food Technologists, where she led the FDA FSMA traceability pilots.

🔍 Episode Highlights:

• Jennifer's food safety career journey
• Skills that are important for food safety professionals
• Safety concerns regarding produce
• Technology's role in the future of food safety

Show Notes

Jennifers's  / Website/ LinkedIn

TIMESTAMPS

(0:00)  Introduction

(1:30)  Jennifer introduces herself

(5:20)  Jobs in food safety policy

(10:44)  Science and government policy

(14:10)  How to practice communicating science

(16:25)  Understanding people’s points of view

(20:13)  Food produce food safety

(24:31)  Food safety of sprouts 

(28:15)  Technology’s role on food safety for the future

(33:00)   How to learn about data science

(37:22)   Soft skills needed by food safety professionals

(44:34)   Outro

 

COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT

📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)

📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)

 

CONNECT

🐦 Connect on Twitter

📸 Connect on Instagram

💼 Connect on LinkedIn

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📹 Subscribe on YouTube

 

SPONSORS

CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.

 

SAY THANKS

💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify