Join hundreds of industry professionals October 21–23, 2026, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, just minutes from Washington, D.C., for one of the industry's premier educational and networking events.
Produced by Innovative Publishing Company, publisher of Food Safety Tech and Cannabis Industry Journal, the Food Safety Consortium and the Cannabis Quality Conference will once again be co-located under one roof, creating an unmatched opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate across two rapidly evolving industries.
Food Safety Consortium
Since 2012, the Food Safety Consortium, organized by Food Safety Tech, has brought together food safety professionals, regulators, academia, testing laboratories, technology providers, and industry leaders to address today's most pressing challenges in food protection, food integrity, food defense, and regulatory compliance.
The conference offers with executive level workshops and specialized training programs within the two and a half days of expert keynote presentations, panel discussions, case studies, and educational sessions led by recognized industry experts.
Food Safety Consortium Optional Professional Training Programs
Enhance your conference experience by adding one of this year's in-depth training opportunities:
· Advanced FMEA & Risk Management*
· Advanced Strategic RCA & CAPA*
· Audit Leadership*
· FSPCA Food Traceability Rule (FTR) – Training for the Food Industry Participant Course
*Project-Based Learning includes six hours of onsite instruction followed by eight hours of virtual training approximately two weeks after the conference .
Register for the conference and then select any desired workshops or training programs as optional add-ons. You will have full access to conference education, keynote presentations, networking breaks, lunches, receptions, and the exhibit hall during hours that Training is on break.
Cannabis Quality Conference
The Cannabis Quality Conference (CQC) returns in 2026 as a co-located event alongside the Food Safety Consortium. Professionals from both industries are able to collaborate, exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore innovations in quality, safety, testing, compliance, and manufacturing.
Food Safety Consortium / Cannabis Quality Conference Registration - Your conference registration includes access to either and/or both conferences, allowing you to customize your educational experience while expanding your professional network across food and cannabis sectors.
As Rick Biros, President of Innovative Publishing Company and Director of the Food Safety Consortium, explains:
"We are bringing two great conferences together under one roof. The Food Safety Consortium will continue its strategic meeting-of-the-minds format while adding practical, boots-on-the-ground food safety education. Co-location with Cannabis Quality provides attendees with expanded learning opportunities in product testing, quality assurance, infused product safety, and compliance that benefit professionals in both industries."
Maximize Your Experience
As an on-site attendee, you'll enjoy:
· Full access to both conference programs
· Industry-leading keynote speakers and educational sessions
· Interactive panel discussions
· Extensive networking opportunities
· Exhibit Hall featuring innovative products and solutions
· Daily networking breaks, lunches, and evening receptions
Use the interactive agenda to explore sessions, speaker biographies, and detailed program descriptions so you can build a schedule tailored to your interests.
Bring Your Team: Learning is even more valuable when your team attends together. New for 2026: Register three or more team members and receive 25% off all registrations.
Make It a Conference to Remember: Take advantage of the conference's convenient location just outside Washington, D.C. Extend your stay, bring your family, explore our nation's capital, and combine world-class professional development with an unforgettable travel experience.
We look forward to welcoming you to three inspiring days of education, innovation, and collaboration at the 2026 Food Safety Consortium and Cannabis Quality Conference.
Tickets
Agenda
Speakers
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Registration Info
Executive Training and Workshops
There are four Training Programs available at this year's Consortium.
- Advanced FMEA & Risk Management*
- Advanced Strategic RCA & CAPA*
- Audit Leadership*
- FSPCA Food Traceability Rule (FTR) - Training for the Food Industry Participant Course.
*Project-Based Learning. 6 hours onsite with 8 hours virtual 2 weeks after the conference
You first register for the conference and then add the training or workshops as additional options. The time you are not in the training or workshop, you will be able to participate in the conference program including sessions, networking breaks, lunches and receptions.
Registration Instructions:
- Click on Register
- Select Registration type, i.e. Food & Beverage Industry Registration
- Register for the Conference. Depending on the date of registration, it could be Super Early Bird Discount, Early Bird Discount or Late Registration.
- Under Options, select the Training/Workshops that you would like to attend. You can attend more than one!
- Follow the prompts to complete the registration.
Registration: Team Discounts & Payment Methods
Payment Method: ACH, Check, Credit Card or PayPal.
- PayPal is our credit card processor.
- You can pay with your credit card and you do not need a PayPal account.
- The merchant name on your credit card statement will read "Food Safety" or "FS Consortium" depending on your bank.
- We can Invoice you and then you can pay via ACH or check.
- Contact us if you have any questions
Team Discounts:
We are offering a 25% discount for teams of 3 or more participants from the same company. We are also offering a number of Pre-Conference Trainings and Workshops (Sunday) for an additional fee, that you will be able to add to your registration.
- When you register 3 or more participants from your company, you will receive a 25% discount per registration.
- You must register your team at the same time by selecting Add A Registrant
- If you register 3+ people at the same time, the system will apply the discount to ALL registrants.
- If you are adding team members after registering, please contact us.
- Please contact us if you need assistance registering your team.
FAQs
Can I Cancel my Registration:
Cancellations minus a 20% cancellation fee are available until October 7. There will be NO refunds on Cancellations received after October 7.
We will gladly substitute your registration to another colleague.
Do you have a room block at the hotel?
Attendees to the Food Safety Consortium Conference are offered a special group rate . You can also find the Discounted Hotel Block Reservation link at the top of the conference homepage at www.FoodSafetyConsortium.org.
Please note, in order to produce and host the conference at the hotel, the Food Safety Tech and AFFI have to financially guarantee the room block. We greatly appreciate it if you reserve your hotel room through the above link.
Please do not use third party travel apps like Kayak, Hotel (dot com) or Marriott points to reserve your room. Those rooms are not considered part of the guaranteed Consortium room block. It takes a village to share food safety knowledge and you are doing your part presenting but also by reserving your hotel room through the room block. Thanks for your understanding.
Hotel & Travel Information
Transportation information
The Crystal Gateway Marriott is only one mile from Reagan National Airport (DCA), two miles to Washington, DC and directly connected to the Crystal City Metro station. Ideally located in Arlington, VA, the hotel is steps to the exciting new National Landing development and Pentagon City; as well as a quick and convenient Metro ride to downtown Washington D.C. and Old Town Alexandria.
The hotel provides a complimentary Airport Shuttle, that runs daily between 5:00 AM to Midnight, every 30 minutes. You can schedule it by calling the hotel.
You can also take a metro ride from the Airport by following the signs to the National Airport Metro Station. You will need to purchase a fare care from one of the machines at the station. The fare should be ~ $2.
You can take the Yellow Line (towards Mount Vernon Square) or the Blue Line (towards Largo). Depending on the time you arrive at the airport, trains will run between 5 to 15 minutes.
The hotel is the next stop, CRYSTAL CITY Metro Station. Exit the station via the S. Clark & 18 Street exit, Hotel is a 5 minute walk from the hotel across the metro station
A typical UBER ride to the hotel from the Airport will cost you between $10 - $45 depending on the time you arrive. Be aware that rush hour in the DC area runs between 6:30 am – 9:30 am and 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm.
You can also board a TAXI from the taxi stand at the airport. Fare should run you about $15.
You can also take Amtrak/ACELA trains to Union Station in DC and take the Metro RED Line (toward Shady Grove). Change trains to the YELLOW Line (toward Huntington) and get off at the Crystal City Station. Exit the station via the S. Clark & 18 Street exit, Hotel is a 5 minute walk from the hotel across the metro station.
HOTEL ROOMS
Attendees to the Food
Safety Consortium Conference are offered a special group rate . You can
also find the Discounted Hotel Block Reservation link at the top of the
conference homepage at www.FoodSafetyConsortium.org.
Please note, in order to produce and host the conference at the hotel, the Food Safety Tech and AFFI have to financially guarantee the room block. We greatly appreciate it if you reserve your hotel room through the above link.
Please do not use third party travel apps like Kayak, Hotel (dot com) or Marriott points to reserve your room. Those rooms are not considered part of the guaranteed Consortium room block. It takes a village to share food safety knowledge and you are doing your part presenting but also by reserving your hotel room through the room block. Thanks for your understanding.
If you need help making hotel arrangements, or to extend your stay, for the Food Safety Consortium, contact us, we're here to help!
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRAVEL TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL
DC has lots to offer! Here are a couple of things for you to explore:
If you would like to visit the National Air & Space Museum, make sure to make reservations in advance. Entrance is free but timed-tickets are needed to be able to enter the museum.
You can make reservation via this link
To visit the National Museum of African American History, you will need to make ticket reservations in advance. There are limited tickets and they tend to be gone pretty fast. Make sure to make reservations at least a month in advance via this link
To visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum, you can reserve timed tickets via this link
Floor Plan
Floor Plan for Sessions and Lunch
