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.
Nominations for the 2023 award close at 5pm on 3 June 2023. You can nominate individuals, teams, or organisations. Self-nominations are also accepted.
Enter now – complete our online form
Who to nominate 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).
This could include developing or improving a food safety process or operation. It could be in one sector, or across a few sectors. It is not time specific.
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.
Nominations for the 2023 award are open now. You can nominate individuals, teams, or organisations. Self-nominations are also accepted.
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 is not time specific.
The award will be announced at the 2023 NZIFST Conference. The Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award winner will receive a trophy and a 12-month membership to the NZIFST.
2022 award winner
In 2022, New Zealand Food Safety’s 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 on a number of topical areas of food safety over many years.
Research and work carried out by the Food Safety and Preservation Team have helped in identifying key microbiological food safety risks for the New Zealand kiwifruit and apple agencies, as well as risks from Vibrio organisms in New Zealand shellfish and the environmental parameters that trigger those risks.
The Food Safety and Preservation Team also played a vital role in identifying controls and mitigations to ensure that New Zealand shellfish could be marketed without risk of causing vibriosis which helped to protect our 200-million-dollar mussel industry.
Previous award winners
Previous winners of the Award are Aaron Dodunski (2020), Rosie Waller (2019), Professor Nigel French (2018), and Dr Lesley Rhodes (2017).
The 2021 Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award was presented to Denver McGregor (New Zealand King Salmon) who was recognised for his commitment to maintaining a great food safety culture within his company and his contributions to Listeria monocytogenes management in the field.
