About IFIS

 

Get to know us a little better

Based in Reading (UK), IFIS is a not-for-profit academic publishing organisation with an ongoing commitment to:

  • Supporting those studying and working in the sciences of food and health by making it easier to access
    industry-specific information that can be trusted.
  • Preserving integrity and accuracy in the fields of food and beverages.
  • Furthering learning and development in the sciences of food and health across the world - especially in areas where access to our resources may be limited.

Our Origins

Founded in 1968 to provide the food and drink community with better access to industry-specific research and information, IFIS was the result of a collaboration between four internationally renowned food science and technology organisations:

The institute of food technologies (IFT)

USA’s leading membership organisation for food scientists and food technologists.

The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI)

A British not-for-profit international information provider specialising in agriculture and the environment.

Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft e.V (DLG)

Germany’s leading membership organisation in the agricultural and food sectors.

The Centrum voor Landbouw Publikaties en Landbouwdocumemtatie (PUDOC)

The Dutch centre for agricultural publications and documentation.

Since then, we’ve continued to support those working in and studying the sciences of food and health with new tools and resources, as well as improving ease-of-access by partnering with the providers of popular research tools.

Students sitting at desks in a lecture room.

As the technology that’s used to store and retrieve information has evolved, IFIS has adapted to better meet the needs of our users. As we’re quick to adopt emerging technology, we offer training to help students and professionals search for information online more effectively, get the best out of our tools and alleviate information overload.

IFIS is committed to improving knowledge of the sciences of food and health across the world, with free or low-cost access to our services and resources available through the Research4Life programmes – HINARI, AGORA, ARDI & OARE.

Research 4 life logo

Paddy field located most likely located in one of several eastern countries

Looking back over 50 years of IFIS 

Here are some highlights from over 50 years of helping the food community discover information it can trust.

1968

IFIS is originally founded as the International Food Information Services

1969

FSTA is first published as a printed resource called Food Science and Technology Abstracts that contains 12,000 food science and technology abstracts

1976

FSTA includes the first-issue of renowned Elsevier journal Food Chemistry

1991

FSTA is released on SilverPlatter CD-Rom

1999

IFIS introduces the subject of nutrition into its repertoire

2001

IFIS launch the Dictionary of Food Science & Technology in association with Wiley-Blackwell

2004

IFIS introduces the subject of pet foods into its catalogue of scientific records

2005

FSTA includes new coverage of Japanese patents and reaches 25,000 records 

2012

IFIS celebrates the inclusion of FSTA’s one millionth record

2015

FSTA introduces new coverage of Chinese journals

2018

IFIS celebrates its 50th anniversary

IFIS begins a partnership with Research4Life programmes, OARE and ARDI

2021

IFIS Collections are launched, offering readymade curated collections for food sectors and custom collections for food companies

2022

FSTA with Full Text is launched in collaboration with EBSCO.

The Nutritional Science collection is launched in collaboration with The Nutrition Society. 

2023

IFIS logged the 2 millionth record in FSTA database  

2024

In collaboration with Wolters Kluwer we launched Ovid NutriHealth, a groundbreaking database dedicated to the intricate relationship between diet and health.

Our Purpose

Find out more about our mission to better enable the global food community to find, use and share information and research.

Find out more

Leadership and trustees

Meet the people who ensure IFIS upholds our reputation for authenticity, integrity and excellence.

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Our partners

Learn more about the organisations who are helping us improve knowledge of food and health across the world.

Find out more