PEOPLE
IFT Names New President, President-Elect
Pictured: Dr. Gunnar Sigge
Gunnar Sigge, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Food Science at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, has assumed the role of President of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), succeeding Peggy Poole, Ph.D. Dr. Sigge will serve a one-year term.
Dr. Sigge has volunteered with IFT in several capacities, including serving on the IFT Board of Directors from 2021–2024. He also served on the Annual Meeting Scientific Program Advisory Panel, Divisions Champions Team, Inclusive Systems Review Task Team, and International Division leadership team.
Considering the myriad complex and interconnected challenges facing the global food system, Dr. Sigge said priorities for his term will include connecting food science professionals globally, sharing knowledge and resources, and bringing scientific expertise to discussions about the future of food.
Dr. Sigge has been active in the South African Association for Food Science and Technology since 1997 and has been involved with several other scientific organizations, including the International Water Association, Institute of Packaging South Africa, Water Institute of South Africa, and South African Society for Dairy Technology.
His research interests include food processing, food processing wastewater treatment, sustainable water use in the food industry, food safety, and novel disinfection systems for food and irrigation water. Dr. Sigge also helped establish the master’s program in Food and Nutrition Security at Stellenbosch University.
Dr. Sigge earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in food science from Stellenbosch University, where he has also served as Chair of the Department of Food Science since 2009.
IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean said Sigge brings a global perspective, scientific expertise, and an understanding of the opportunities facing IFT and the food science community.
Looking for quick answers on food safety topics?
Try Ask FSM, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask FSM →
IFT President-Elect Also Named
Jeffrey Varcoe, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Science and Technical Excellence at The J.M. Smucker Company, has assumed the role of IFT President-Elect. He is scheduled to begin his term as IFT President on September 1, 2027.
Prior to joining J.M. Smucker, Dr. Varcoe spent 21 years at Schwan's Company, where he held several technical leadership positions, including Vice President of Food Safety and Quality, Vice President of Manufacturing Technical Services, Director of Research and Development, Director of Food Safety and Microbiology, and Manager of Food Safety.
Dr. Varcoe has been involved with organizations including the American Frozen Food Institute, Mitchell Hamline School of Law's Food Law and Policy Institute Advisory Committee, and the Advisory Council for the University of Minnesota's Department of Food Science and Nutrition.
He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Southwest Missouri State University and a master's degree in biology from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He earned his Ph.D. in food science from the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Varcoe described serving as President-Elect as an opportunity to contribute his perspective from more than 25 years in food manufacturing to IFT's future direction.
