AI For Food

The AI for Food
Global Summit

Chicago, August 14 – 15, 2024

The Eldelman Test Kitchen

meet industry, academia, government, startup and Venture Capital leaders discuss the role of AI for the food ecosystem

Join an exclusive, invitation-only gathering that brings together specialists and aficionados from various sectors of the food industry to discuss crucial topics at the confluence of AI and the food ecosystem, such as impact, significance, future prospects, governance, skill enhancement, and investment opportunities.

Panelists will offer insights into the current role of AI within their specialties and, looking ahead, will share their vision on the evolution and influence of AI in the years to come.

Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage with each panelist in intimate group settings, delving into the pressing issues and seeking answers to the questions that matter most to them.

Keynote Panel

Kevin Cook

Edelman

President

Hon. Yinam Cohen

Consul General of Israel to the Midwest

Hon. Somnath Ghosh

Consul General of India in Chicago

Hon. Madeleine Féquière

Consul General of Canada in Chicago

Hon. Raja Krishnamoorthi

Congressman (D-Il), 8th District

Our amazing speakers

Our speakers are not just experts in their fields; they are passionate pioneers eager to explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in the food industry. With a blend of curiosity and expertise, they are excited to share their visionary insights and hands-on experiences, making the concept of “AI for Food” both accessible and highly relevant to industry professionals.

Get ready to be inspired by their innovative perspectives and practical knowledge!

Mike Brown

Synergy Flavors

Vice President, Research, Development and Innovation

Maxine Roman

Kraft Heinz

Lead, R&D Innovation Collaboration & Partnerships

Adelaide Feuer

Edible Inc.

Executive Vice President

John Dyck

CESMII

CEO, Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII)

Adam Rosenberg

Lexmark

AI and IoT Business Development

Balamurugan Balakreshnan

Microsoft

Senior Director

Joe Hamann

Connected System Institute (CSI)

Executive Director, Connected System Institute (CSI) at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Cam LinkE

Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII)

CEO

Lisa Saxon Reed

McCain Foods

Senior Director, Global Sensory and User Experience

Simona Fernandes

Plug and Play Tech Center (PNPTC)

Venture Analyst, Food and
Beverage

Cam Crowder

Redstick Ventures

Co-Founder

Aaditi Tamhankar

Bluestein Ventures

Analyst

Sridhar Ramandham

Cogni AI

Investor

Rinka Banerjee

Thinking Forks

Founder & Director

Amanda Hennessey

BCD iLabs

Head of R&D Sales

Manuela Zoninsein

Kadeya

CEO & Founder

Alison Borgmeyer

Edelman

U.S. Chair of Food & Beverage,

Christopher Hoemeke

Rockwell Automation

Global Key Accounts

Tina Gettis

The Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH)

Business Development & Communications
Council Chair, Staff Advisory Council

Kence Anderson

Composabl AI

Co-Founder & CEO

Dr. Chris DownS

Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)

Past President and Board Member

SOM GanChoudhuri

AI Palette

CEO

Robert Schaul

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton

Partner

Jacob Barry

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ITSC)

Innovation Program Manager

Presenters

Vinay Indraganti

BCD iLabs

Founder and CEO, BCD iLabs
Co-Founder, AI for Food Global Initiative

Michael Walton

BCD iLabs

Co-Founder and President, BCD iLabs

Ravi K

AI for Food Global Initiative

Co-Founder

George Lenhart

BCD iLabs

Co-Founder

Multiple tracks across two stimulating days

August 14, 2024

Event opening

9:30 am – 11:00 am CST

Kevin Cook, President, Edelman

Hon. Yinam Cohen, Consul General of Israel in Chicago

Hon. Somnath Ghosh, Consul General of India in Chicago

Hon. Madeleine Féquière, Consul General of Canada in Chicago

Hon. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congressman (D-Il), 8th District

The AI For Food Movement – Book Release

Vinay Indraganti
Founder and CEO, BCD iLabs
Co-Founder, AI for Food Global Initiative

Michael Walton, Co-Founder and President, BCD iLabs

Ravi K
Co-Founder, AI for Food Global Initiative

Panel: AI for Food R&D

11.30 am – 1:00 pm CST

Mike Brown, Vice President, Research, Development and Innovation, Synergy Flavors

Maxine Roman, Lead, R&D Innovation Collaboration & Partnerships, Kraft Heinz

Alison Borgmeyer, U.S. Chair of Food & Beverage, Edelman

Moderator
Vinay Indraganti, Founder and CEO, BCD iLabs

Panel: AI for Food Manufacturing

2:00 PM – 3:30 pm CST

John Dyck, CEO of the Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII)

Adam Rosenberg, AI and IoT Business Development, Lexmark

Balamurugan Balakreshnan, Sr. Director, Microsoft

Moderator
Michael Walton, Co-Founder and President, BCD iLabs

Panel: AI For Food: Research, Innovation and Skills

4:00 PM – 5:30 pm CST

Lisa Saxon Reed, Senior Director, Global Sensory and User Experience, McCain Foods

Joe Hamann, Executive Director, Connected System Institute  

George Lenhart, Co-founder, BCD iLabs

Cam Linke, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII)

Moderator
Ravi K, Co-Founder, AI for Food Global Initiative

August 15, 2024

Panel: AI for Food Investment Opportunities

9:30 am – 11:00 am CST

Simona Fernandes, Ventures Analyst, Early-stage Investor, Food and Beverage

Cam Crowder, Co-Founder Redstick Ventures

Aaditi Tamhankar, Analyst, Bluestein Ventures 

Sreedhar Ramanadham, Investor, Cogni AI

Moderator
Vinay Indraganti, Founder and CEO, BCD iLabs

Panel: Women Leading AI for Food

11.30 am – 1:00 pm CST

Rinka Banerjee, Founder & CEO, Thinking Forks

Amanda Hennessey, Head of R&D Sales, BCD

Manuela Zoninsein, CEO, Kadeya

Moderator:
Alison Borgmeyer, U.S. Chair of Food & Beverage, Edelman

Panel: AI and Food Safety

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm CST

Christopher Hoemeke, Global Key Accounts, Rockwell Automation

Tina Gettis, The Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH)

Kence Anderson, CEO, Composabl AI

Moderator
Michael Walton, Co-Founder and President, BCD iLabs

Panel: AI for Food
Governance, Policy, Ethics and Sustainability

4:00 PM – 5:30 pm CST

Jacob Barry, Innovation Program Manager, Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ITSC)

Robert J Schaul, Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton

Somsubhra Ganchoudhury, Co-founder& CEO, AI Palette

Dr. Chris Downs, Board Member and Past President, IFT

Moderator
Ravi K, Co-Founder, AI for Food Global Initiative

Conclusion & Announcements


Vinay Indraganti | Ravi K

The AI For Food Global Summit, 2025

The AI For Food Movement Book Launch in NYC, September 17, 2024

Register to Attend or Learn More