Food and Health Research at The University of Auckland

Project Description and Objectives

The Food and Health programme is an interdisciplinary research and teaching programme drawing on specialist expertise in food science, process engineering, nutrition, health, social sciences, business and commercialisation from across the University of Auckland.

Initiated in 2009, I was responsible for industry engagement working with Dean of Science and other faculty members to launch the programme to a network of potential partners. This included show casing the work of leading academics, facilitating innovation workshops to develop shared research agendas with industry partners and winning new research contracts.

Outcomes

A key objective of the programme was to bring together different disciplines to work on research that could add value to food exports.  The programme started with around 80 academics and now involves 200 academics. Initially the programme focussed on research and role of food to improve health conditions. Since then many more initiatives have been developed – for more information click here.