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Events

Catalyzing innovation in food and health

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Discovery Forums

Discovery Forums bring together leading scientific researchers, clinicians, investors, and business leaders to discuss specific areas in food for health innovation. Together they explore the research that is needed to bridge the gap to commercialization, as well as the initial markets for products in food and beverage, and consumer health. Select papers from these forums are shared publicly to further advance understanding of areas with opportunity for development and innovation.

Partner Summit

Private events bringing together the forward thinking food companies, foundations, investors, researchers, and organizations who have partnered with the IIFH. This event highlights our work from the year as well as launches new initiatives that the people in the room might collaborate on to give people healthier versions of the food they love.

Upcoming Events

September 16, 2025

IIFH Wine and Health Dinner

Following the September 16 Savor Lecture on Food and Wine, the Robert Mondavi Institute and IIFH will host a discussion featuring UC Davis researchers and wine industry leaders to explore the science and innovation shaping the future of wine and health.
September 17, 2025

Food for Health Angels: Charter Member Kick-off and Dinner

UC Davis and the Innovation Institute for Food and Health have launched Food and Health Angels, a network of visionary investors committed to advancing innovation at the intersection of food, health, and life sciences.
September 18, 2025

Create Impact: A Fireside Chat on Venture Creation

Join investor and entrepreneur Aryeh Ganz for a fireside chat on translating research into real-world impact, as he shares his venture creation model and supports UC Davis innovators in building health-focused startups.
October 6-7, 2025

Discovery Forum | The Science of Metabolic Hormones: Precision Nutrition in the “Ozempic Era”

Hosted by IIFH, UC Davis Innovation and Economic Development Office and UC Davis Health, this discovery forum brings together leading researchers to unpack the science of GLP-1 drugs and their far-reaching implications for food, health, and market strategy.
October 7, 2025

Discovery Forum Investor Meetup: Identifying Market Opportunities Based on the Science of GLP-1s

Following the GLP-1 discovery forum, IIFH and UC Davis Venture Catalyst will convene a select group of investors to reflect on key takeaways and explore strategic opportunities in the evolving food and health landscape.
October 27, 2025

Discovery Forum | Caffeine – Examining its Beneficial and Adverse Health Impacts

Hosted by IIFH, Cornucopian Capital and the UC Davis Coffee Center, this event explores the bioactivity of coffee and caffeine—from health effects to personalized nutrition—through the lens of cutting-edge research on metabolism, genetics, and chronobiology.
May 12-14, 2026

2026 IIFH Partner Summit

This invitation-only IIFH event brings together partners from across the food system to exchange insights, spark collaboration, and drive innovation aimed at making food healthier for people and the planet.

Past Events

June 1-5, 2025
Speaking

73rd ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics

April 30, 2025

Metabolic Psychiatry: From Treatment to Prevention

April 29, 2025
Speaking

Innovation Day 2025

April 28, 2025
Speaking

Kosuna Distinguished Lecture in Nutrition

April 23-24, 2025
Speaking

TomKat Ranch: Healthy Food & Healthy Planet

March 12, 2025

Innovation in Action Tour: Future Food-Tech at UC Davis

March 4, 2025
Speaking

Natural Products Expo West 2025

February 26, 2025
Hosted in collaboration with UC Davis Venture Catalyst

AgriFood Investor Network Summit

February 20, 2025
Summit Trail Advisors and AIFS

Investing in the Future of Human and Planetary Health

November 21, 2024
Speaking

FoodTech 11

October 29, 2024
Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI)

The Periodic Table of Food Initiative: Mapping Food Quality of the Planet’s Edible Biodiversity

October 8-12, 2024

2024 Partner Summit

Event Questions?

Our team is here to help! Feel free to send any questions regarding events to [email protected].

Testimonials

I was amazed by the impact of the cutting-edge food & health innovative ventures supported by IIFH.
I was also nourished with 'food for thought' from networking conversations with summit partners, and inspired by collaborations that combine the best of science and business to advance our food system. Overall, IIFH's partner summit 2023 is a much needed annual gathering!
Paul Kasemsap
IIFH Innovator Fellow Alumni
Thank you for including me in the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health Summit. My inbox is overflowing from relevant connections I made at the event.
The topics were timely and the cutting-edge scientific research was presented in a wonderfully accessible manner. I am grateful to be part of the extended UC Davis community and look forward to working with you.
Ishtvan I. McGee
Managing Director, Healthcare Investment Banking, BMO Capital Markets
The IIFH Partner Summit was the pinnacle of my experience as a UC Davis alumni to-date.
I was proud to be a part of an ecosystem that’s been growing so impressively. We had leading retailers, brands, food scientists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs all in attendance talking, debating, and collaborating on the future of food and food technology. I can’t wait until the next sessions.
Edris Bemanian
Chief Executive Officer
Engage3 Logo
Congratulations on a fantastic IIFH partners meeting – I left the meeting feeling inspired and optimistic about the food system innovations coming online to drive meaningful impact for human health!
Kudos on bringing together such a thought-provoking and engaging session with real thought leaders and innovators in this space.
Meghan O’Hearn
PhD, Impact Director, Food Systems for the Future
As someone who is relatively new to investing on the food side, the IIFH Partner Summit was a great crash-course in the most important work that is being done in the field. The diversity of presenters and subjects was fantastic.
Bill Arnold
Venture Discovery Director, Generation Food Rural Partners, Big Idea Ventures
Big Idea Ventures Logo
The IIFH Summit was a success. Congratulations!
I left the last day thrilled and energized with the connections and networking across the food ecosystem. Hats off. We definitely would like to be part of the IIFH Summit from now on.
Mauro Trevisani
CEO, Treehouse Almonds
The content was great, covering the most important themes within the future of food, but with a group of speakers that elevated the nuance – as well as the diverse considerations within each topic.
The cross-section of attendees and speakers also lead to rich conversations across the board. I very much appreciated participating. Bluestein Ventures has really enjoyed being part of IIFH this year and hope to continue collaborating closely.
Ashley Hartman
Managing Partner
Bluestein Ventures Logo
The IIFH Partner Summit was a very inspiring event
From the innovative new companies presenting their technologies to the academic experts presenting groundbreaking research to improve the food we eat so that we may live healthier, longer lives. I am thrilled to be part of the IIFH ecosystem and engage with leaders from across the global food system. I look forward to following IIFH’s progress and attending future events.
David Hultman
CWS® CIMA®, Managing Director, BMO Family Office
UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health
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