Seafood safety researcher awarded at NZIFST Food Industry Awards

Dr Tim Harwood has received the 2026 Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Food Industry Awards, which were held on Wednesday, 1 July.

As a nationally recognised leader in seafood safety research, Harwood’s work has had significant and long-lasting impacts across New Zealand’s seafood sector, regulatory systems, and both domestic and international communities. His development and implementation of analytical detection methods for paralytic shellfish toxins underpins routine regulatory testing, and delivers faster turnaround times with analytical precision.

“We are delighted to recognise Dr Harwood for his significant contribution to the seafood safety sector,” said Mike Inglis, acting deputy director-general at New Zealand Food Safety, which sponsors this award.

“Through working together with organisations including the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, New Zealand Food Safety, the Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, and AgResearch, his work has strengthened seafood safety systems across New Zealand and beyond.”

Harwood led the Seafood Safety Programme, supporting New Zealand’s $2 billion seafood industry through the application of science-based, internationally aligned testing approaches that help maintain product safety and market access. He has also worked closely with Māori communities to support safer customary seafood harvesting.

“His work has helped extend seafood safety knowledge and tools to at-risk communities, including through field testing kits and training in the Bay of Plenty, helping ensure safer harvest during important community events,” Inglis said.

“We congratulate Dr Harwood and all 2026 nominees. Their work supports New Zealand’s strong food safety system.”

Harwood is currently the manager of the Food and Bioactives Group at Cawthron Institute and serves as deputy director at the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre.

Image credit: iStock.com/Lisovskaya