Trend Talk with Maeve and Mike: Breaking the Trend Cycle, Inside IFT’s New Open-Source Traceability Driver

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Omnivore

Episode Description

What happens when every menu and grocery aisle starts to look the same? Menu Matters’ Maeve Webster and Mike Kostyo discuss the push for simplicity, the pitfalls of trend chasing, and where real innovation will come from next. Blake Harris, managing director of IFT’s Global Food Traceability Center, talks about how the new Traceability Driver came to life, what makes it different, and why open-source solutions like this could be a game-changer for the global food system.

This episode of Omnivore is brought to you by CoDeveloper, from IFT. CoDeveloper is the first AI-powered co-scientist built BY food scientists FOR food scientists, and leverages IFT's 85+ years of scientific excellence – accelerating your R&D processes and helping solve your toughest challenges. Learn more and book your free demo at CoDeveloper.IFT.org.

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Featured Guests

Maeve Webster President of Menu Matters

Maeve Webster is president of Menu Matters, an independent consultancy, based on 18 years of industry experience, designed to help foodservice clients identify, evaluate and leverage trends from flavors and preparation techniques to consumer behavior and operational innovations.
Mike Kostyo Vice president at Menu Matters

Mike Kostyo is vice president at Menu Matters, where he helps clients uncover emerging food and beverage trends through a human-centered, data-informed lens. Known for his cross-disciplinary background in gastronomy, journalism, and culinary arts, he provides insights that connect cultural shifts to innovation opportunities across foodservice, retail, and CPG. Mike is a regular industry speaker and media contributor and cohosts The Mess Hall podcast, which explores the stories and behaviors shaping the future of food.
Blake Harris Technical Director of IFT's GFTC

Blake Harris is technical director of IFT’s Global Food Traceability Center.

Omnivore

IFT’s Omnivore and Omnivore Presents: SciDish podcasts spark lively, thought-provoking conversations with the science, business, and regulatory leaders shaping the future of food. Each episode delivers sharp analysis, practical insights, and bold ideas designed to challenge assumptions, ignite innovation, and energize your work across the global food system.

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