The Texas A&M Nutrition and Food Science Department was well represented at the recent Longhorn Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Technical Sessions and Suppliers Night event. Twenty-five undergraduate students, three graduate students and two faculty members took part in the annual event that included over 300 Exhibitors and over 1,000 attendees. The students and faculty networked with ingredient suppliers, processing equipment manufacturers, food scientists from Consumer Package Goods (CPG) companies, and third party food analysis lab representatives. The group also gained new insights into sugar reduction challenges in the beverage industry and challenges to pathogen detection in different food matrices during the technical sessions. Our department also had the opportunity to promote our new Food Diversity Innovation Program to food industry professionals.