Events
Beyond Reformulation: Shaping the Future of Food Color Innovation
Date
November 12, 2026 03:00pm - 04:00pm
Consumer demand for non-FD&C colorants is rising, policies are evolving, and brands are advancing natural color transitions. But scaling takes more than reformulation alone. It requires coordinated actions across agriculture, trade, processing, manufacturing, distribution, and retail. What should food and agriculture leaders consider as they plan for the future of food color?
In this live event, RTI experts will share key takeaways from a recent roadmap report developed for the National Confectioners Association, including the challenges, opportunities, and considerations impacting the shift to natural food colors. Then, leaders from RTI, Sensient Colors, and Victus Ars will translate the research into a panel discussion focused on market shifts, implementation challenges, innovation opportunities, and industry coordination needs shaping natural food color transitions.
During this webinar, attendees will learn:
- How consumer expectations, policies, and market signals are influencing food color decisions
- About the research, investment, partnerships, and industry coordination needed to scale natural food colors successfully
- Where innovation opportunities are emerging across agriculture, ingredients, technology, supply chains, and product development
- How to anticipate challenges, identify collaboration opportunities, and ask practical questions to inform food color strategies
Learn more about the moderator
Micaela Cox, PhD, is an innovation advisor at RTI who helps food and agriculture leaders navigate complexity and accelerate innovation by assessing product feasibility, market opportunities, and emerging technologies. With a background in nutrition science, she advises clients on new ingredients, health product claims, plant proteins, and more.
Learn more about the presenters
Christi Boxx is a senior technical service manager at Sensient Colors, Inc., with more than 13 years of experience in food color innovation. She specializes in the practical application of natural and synthetic colors, helping food and confectionery manufacturers navigate formulation, processing, and scale-up challenges.
Michelle Frame is president and founder of Victus Ars, which she established in 2014 after purposefully building 25 years of technical experience throughout the confectionery and related industries. She is a 2021 inductee to the Candy Hall of Fame and recipient of the Stroud Jordan Award for Excellence in Candy Technology.
Kristen Giombi, PhD, is a senior economist at RTI with 14 years of experience helping public, nonprofit, and commercial organizations evaluate food, nutrition, and safety net programs and policies. She combines qualitative and quantitative research, evidence synthesis, and stakeholder perspectives to generate practical insights that inform program and policy decisions.
Daniel Lapidus is a senior economist at RTI with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations navigate decisions at the intersection of agriculture, food security, and the environment. He applies socioeconomic analysis, geospatial analytics, and technology valuation to identify solutions that benefit people while reducing environmental impacts.
