New Professor in Human Nutrition

Dairy Co-operative Fonterra has announced the appointment of Professor Sally Poppitt to a newly established Fonterra Chair in Human Nutrition based out of The University of Auckland. The new Chair will also sit within the Riddet Institute, New Zealand’s Centre of Research Excellence for food science and technology

Prior to her appointment to the new Chair, which commenced on 3 May, Sally was Associate Professor in Nutrition at the University of Auckland where she held lecturing and research positions in both the Department of Medicine and the Faculty of Science. She is also the founder and Director of the University’s Human Nutrition Unit where her research has focused on the prevention and treatment of conditions arising from poor nutrition.

The establishment of the Chair is part of Fonterra’s $40 million investment in the seven year, $72 million post-farmgate Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) announced in August 2010 which sees Fonterra join forces with the Ministry of Agriculture in the New Zealand Government, DairyNZ and other industry players in a $170 million research programme set to drive new value in the dairy industry.

“The PGP provides a unique and truly exciting opportunity to develop world class capabilities and innovation in dairy science to underpin and develop Fonterra’s strategic vision in nutrition,” says Professor Poppitt.

“Dairy clearly plays an important role in a healthy, balanced diet, and leading-edge science to further optimise the health benefits of milk is a key priority of the PGP programme,” she said.

Her appointment follows the appointment of food scientist Dr Peter Munro FRSNZ as the new Fonterra Chair in Food Materials Science based at Massey University in Palmerston North and part of the Riddet Institute.