About the award
Sponsored by New Zealand Food Safety, the Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award is part of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Awards.
New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology
The Award recognises developments in a process or operation – either by an organisation, team or individual – to improve food safety across, or in a particular part of, the food chain.
This could include developing or improving a food safety process or operation. It could be in one sector, or across a few sectors, and is not time specific.
The award will be announced at the 2025 NZIFST Conference. The Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award winner will receive a trophy and a 12-month membership to the NZIFST.
About nominations for the award
We welcome nominations that can demonstrate food safety improvements in any of the following areas:
- science and research
- equipment or processing technology
- product or packaging development
- industry best practice
- building and maintaining an effective food safety culture (such as staff engagement, leadership, or continual improvement).
You can nominate individuals, teams, or organisations. We also accept self-nominations.
2024 award winner
Dr Pierre Venter Director of Research and Development at Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited has been awarded the 2024 Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award for his substantial impact on Fonterra’s food safety and quality science that underpins risk management.
He is also recognised for his world-leading research on applied food safety science and advocating and influencing transformation of food safety and quality science, risk management, and communication in the global arena.
Previous award winners
In 2023, the Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award went to Dr Rob Lake of the Institute of Environmental Science.
Dr Lake was recognised for his many contributions to food safety in New Zealand over his 35-year career, including leadership of national studies on acute gastrointestinal illness and campylobacteriosis.
Previous winners of the award are Plant and Food's highly regarded Food Safety and Preservation Team (2022), Denver McGregor (2021), Aaron Dodunski (2020), Rosie Waller (2019), Professor Nigel French (2018), and Dr Lesley Rhodes (2017).
