Renowned Food Scientist Frédéric Leroy Announced as the AMSA 2025 International Lectureship Award Winner

AMSA is excited to announce that Dr. Frédéric Leroy, is the recipient of the 2025 International Lectureship Award sponsored by PIC. Dr. Leroy, a leading expert in food science and biotechnology, will present a thought-provoking presentation titled  How to Professionally Fail at Understanding the Complexities of Nourishment" at the AMSA 78^th RMC on Monday, June 23, 2025, in Columbus Ohio.  His keynote presentation will challenge conventional approaches to dietary policymaking and propose a more nuanced, systems-based understanding of nourishment. He will explore how food systems theory can deepen our understanding of historical dietary transitions while also highlighting the risks of oversimplifying these insights in modern interventionist policy. In particular, Professor Leroy will critique the push for a ‘Great Food Transformation’ and its potential unintended consequences. He will conclude with recommendations for a more robust, evidence-based approach to improving global nutrition and driving meaningful dietary change.

Frédéric Leroy is a professor of food science and technology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). After earning his degree as a Bioengineer from Ghent University in 1998, he obtained a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences at VUB in 2002. His research focuses on animal-sourced foods, food processing, fermentation, nutrition, and interdisciplinary food studies. Professor Leroy plays an active role in several academic non-profit societies, serving as president of both the Belgian Association of Meat Science and Technology (BAMST) and the Belgian Society for Food Microbiology (BSFM), as well as being a member of the Belgian Nutrition Society (BNS). He also contributes in an advisory capacity to the Scientific Board of the World Farmers' Organization (WFO) and the FAO/COAG Sub-Committee on Livestock. He is a key advocate for a balanced perspective on the role of livestock in sustainable food systems.  His contributions to the field were recognized with the 2022 European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP) award, celebrating his international impact in animal sciences.

The AMSA 78^th RMC is co-hosted by JBT and The Ohio State University and will take place June 23-25, 2025 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown on Columbus, Ohio. For more information or to register please go online: www.meatscience.org/rmc.