The award recognises food safety improvements
The Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award recognises developments in a process or operation to improve food safety. This might be across the food supply chain or a particular part of it.
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 Significant Contribution to Food Safety 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.
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).
This could include developing or improving a food safety process or operation. It could be in one sector, or across a few sectors, and was not time specific.
The Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award winners receive a trophy and a 12-month membership to the NZIFST.
2023 award winner
Dr Rob Lake of the Institute of Environmental Science was the winner of New Zealand Food Safety's Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award in 2023.
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.
Both studies have had important impacts in New Zealand’s public health approach to foodborne illness, and led to Dr Lake being invited to work with the World Health Organization on studies about campylobacteriosis and the worldwide burden of foodborne illness.
Previous award winners
In 2022, the Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award went to Plant and Food's highly regarded Food Safety and Preservation Team.
They were recognised for progressing research that helped identify microbiological food safety risks in New Zealand kiwifruit and apple agencies, as well as risks from Vibrio organisms in New Zealand shellfish.
Previous winners of the award are Denver McGregor (2021), Aaron Dodunski (2020), Rosie Waller (2019), Professor Nigel French (2018), and Dr Lesley Rhodes (2017).