The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has named longtime USDA-ARS research leader Dr. Brendan Niemira as its new Chief Science and Technology Officer, bringing more than 25 years of food safety and innovation experience to the role.
Niemira joins IFT after a distinguished career with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, where he led a multidisciplinary research team focused on reducing pathogens in meat, poultry, produce, and other foods. His work helped advance several non-thermal food safety technologies — including cold plasma, high-intensity light applications, and irradiation — aimed at improving safety without compromising product quality.
A prolific researcher, Niemira has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and earned national recognition, including the Department of Defense Award for Excellence for his leadership within USDA’s Food Safety and Intervention Technologies Research Unit.
In stepping into the CSTO role, Niemira emphasized the importance of strong scientific foundations in today’s food system.
“We are facing unprecedented challenges across the food supply as funding, staffing, and scientific capacity continue to tighten,” he said. “IFT plays a critical role in bringing the food science community together and amplifying the importance of research, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making.”
Niemira has a long history with IFT, serving in multiple volunteer roles, including on the Board of Directors, as Chair of the Biotechnology Division, and as part of the advisory panel shaping content for IFT FIRST, the organization’s annual scientific meeting. He was named an IFT Fellow in 2023 in recognition of his career contributions.
IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean said Niemira’s blend of regulatory experience, scientific leadership, and longstanding involvement with the organization makes him an ideal fit for the CSTO position.
His appointment comes at a time when food safety, technology adoption, and workforce capacity remain top-of-mind across agriculture — including the pork sector, where pathogen control, innovation, and resilient systems continue to impact producers, packers, and researchers alike.
