Food safety and quality science commitment recognised

New Zealand Food Safety has congratulated Dr Pierre Venter for taking out this year’s Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology Awards on 3 July 2024.

With more than 20 years of experience, Venter is the Director of Research and Development at Fonterra and leads a team at Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, which is behind the co-operative’s food safety and quality science that underpins risk management.

Among his team’s many significant achievements are two global patents:

• A tool for advanced risk communication with a broad range of risk managers, including regulators and customers.
• Spatial modelling of pathogen distribution inside manufacturing facilities.

“We are delighted to present Dr Venter with the award,” said New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. “He has contributed immensely to food safety in New Zealand and internationally throughout his career. He has built a reputation for transformation, operations optimisation, innovative strategic thinking, working with the highest level of integrity, and a deep commitment to product leadership culture and people development.”

Venter hopes the award will inspire others to undertake a food safety career and to continue innovative thinking and growth of the discipline.

“Food safety is not merely a matter of science and technology, but also of social and ethical commitment. Much of my career has been dedicated to advancing the understanding and application of food safety science, and to collaborating with various partners to ensure the highest standards of food quality and safety,” Venter said.

“This award reflects the collaborative efforts and accomplishments of many in the food safety community, and in particular the team at the Fonterra Research and Development Centre.”

For more information about the award, visit here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Aleksei Naumov