Top food marketing academics from around the world will use an event at USC on the Sunshine Coast as an opportunity to sample some of the tastiest local fare.

USC food marketing academics Professor Meredith Lawley and Associate Professor Dawn Birch are chairing the International Food Marketing Research Symposium on June 12 and 13, the event's first Australian hosting since it began eight years ago in Philadelphia in the United States.

“We are going to feature local food throughout the event and finish with a 'foodie' tour,” Professor Lawley said.

“I have a session called Flavours of the Sunshine Coast where I will be profiling food and agribusiness from the region, and the delegates will be able to sample macadamia nuts, snacks, chocolates and other local goods.”

Following the conference, delegates are invited on a hinterland tour that takes in Maleny and Montville restaurants and wineries.

“We always tack on that extra optional day so they act get to experience the local industry,” Professor Lawley said.

Delegates are coming from Europe, the United States, New Zealand and Australia.

Food marketing research covers a broad range of topics, but often features recurring themes such as sustainability, food waste and food-related lifestyles.

“A lot of our research does then get applied to industry and the way food is marketed to consumers and this is an opportunity to get us all at the same table sharing our ideas and our latest research,” Professor Lawley said.

A symposium program is available for download at: https://institutefpm.com/proceedings/