News

Study on processed cow’s milk published in Food Hydrocolloids journal

Riddet Institute PhD candidate Natalie Ahlborn’s milk research has appeared in Food Hydrocolloids. Her work on processed milk being digested differently was conducted in collaboration with AgRes...

New study puts the cherry on top

30 March 2023 - Cherries grown in New Zealand are officially jam packed with components essential to human health, according to new research. Cherries can join the ranks of blueberries and oth...

Palmerston North scientist has world Fullbore champs in his sights

30 March 2023 - Palmerston North sharpshooter Barry Scott has been selected for the equivalent of the Olympics of Fullbore Target Rifle Shooting. Scott, a research technician at the Riddet In...

New technologies revolutionising food engineering research

27 March 2023 - Visiting food engineer António Vicente from the University of Minho in Portugal commenced his series of lectures at the Riddet Institute this morning. In the first of four lect...

Kiwi fruit aids sleep - study

1 March 2023 - Eating two green kiwifruit a day can improve your sleep quality and mood, and leave you feeling refreshed in the morning, new research shows. Riddet Institute PhD candidate Alex K...

Alternative milks study featured in dairy farming podcast

20 February 2023 - Riddet Institute Professor Warren McNabb was featured on the DairyNZ podcast in February, speaking to presenter Ben Chapman Smith about research into alternative and plant-base...

13 February 2023

Sad passing of Stuart McCutcheon | Riddet Institute Chair

The Riddet Institute’s staff and students were extremely shocked and saddened at the news of Professor Stuart McCutcheon’s recent death. Stuart was appointed as the Chair of the Riddet Institute...

09 January 2023

Riddet Institute expertise in protein research displayed on world stage

13 December 2022 - Sustenance rations for malnourished children in famine-hit countries were supposed to prevent stunting and wasting. But they didn’t. Now research in Palmerston North is leadi...

13 December 2022

Engaging with policy - resources to help scientists navigate a complex interface

13 December 2022 - Riddet Institute researcher Hannah McKerchar is on a mission to help two worlds connect: scientists and policy makers. She says Aotearoa New Zealand scientists are a massive r...

13 December 2022

Scientific Advisory Panel meets in Napier

14 November 2022 - The Riddet Institute’s Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) had a chance to meet in person during the recent Riddet Institute Conference and Student Colloquium in Napier. The SAP in...

05 December 2022

Advanced milk products expected to result from funding for digestion research

28 November 2022 - Consumers will benefit from new research at the Riddet Institute in Palmerston North that hopes to improve the digestion properties of milk-based products. The Riddet Institut...

28 November 2022

New journal led by Riddet Institute director

6 October 2022 – Riddet Institute director Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh has been appointed inaugural editor-in-chief of a new academic journal dedicated to protein food research. The ...

18 October 2022

Algae superfood research reaches milestone

20 September 2022 – Work has started on analysing a native seaweed and other microalgae with potential superfood status, in a global research project involving New Zealand and Singapore. The mil...

27 September 2022

Riddet Institute food science at the cutting-edge of global innovation

15 September 2022 - A game-changing technology developed at the Riddet Institute has won an international award recognising its impact on addressing global iron deficiency. Ferri-ProTM technolog...

19 September 2022

Study finds milk substitutes have high cost and low nutritional benefits

1 September 2022 – Plant-based beverages are expensive and provide only a small fraction of the nutritional goodness of cow’s milk, according to a new study by Riddet Institute scientists. The stu...

01 September 2022

Lab-grown food research boosted by creation of new academic post

28 July 2022 – The first ever New Zealand Chair in cellular agriculture position has been created,after an agreement was signed by the Riddet Institute and AgResearch. The new professorship is des...

Riddet Institute scientists are cream of the crop at international dairy award

12 July 2022 - Riddet Institute scientists from Massey University in Palmerston North have won two of the four top prizes in an inaugural International Dairy Federation award. Riddet Institute Pos...

Food for thought showcased in new clip

A Youtube clip showing the fun that can be had with food science classroom resource “Food for thought” has been created by the South Auckland branch of House of Science. The Food for Thought kit w...

Scholar wins business pitch contest

Riddet Institute PhD student Aylin Sen is $500 richer after taking out one of this year’s Massey University Pitch. ME 60-second video pitch challenge prizes. The elevator-style pitching competitio...

PhD intern finds new ways to reduce milk waste and support sustainability goals

The words “waste” and “processing plant” are probably not everyday vocabulary for a genetics scholar, but for Massey University student Marc Bailie they quickly became second nature when he joined...

Food science classroom kit proves popular with Kiwi school children

A food tech classroom activity sponsored by the Riddet Institute is proving to be a big hit with school children around New Zealand. The “Food for Thought” kit was named as one of the most popular...

Protein researcher presents work at digestion conference in Ireland

31 May 2022 – A conference in Ireland was a chance to network and present Riddet Institute work on protein digestion for Affiliated Researcher Dr Suzanne Hodgkinson earlier this month. Dr Hodgkins...

New health insights expected from New Zealand cherry research project

17 May 2022 – The Riddet Institute is exploring the nutritional and bioactive profiles and associated health benefits of six popular Otago-grown cherry varieties. Dr Ali Rashidinejad, who leads th...

Ground-breaking iron supplement launched

2 May 2022 – Riddet Institute technology has led to a new, affordable dairy-based drink, launched in Pakistan by Nestlé this week. BUNYAD IRON+ is a new product using a unique and proprietary iron...

Riddet Institute science receives international recognition

26 April 2022 – Riddet Institute Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Debashree Roy received an outstanding recognition in an international science competition last month (March, 2022). The award adds to growi...

Health benefits of alternative milks to be examined in new study

12 April 2022 – A new study comparing the nutritional differences between cow, goat, and sheep milk in the diets of older adults will soon commence. The study, hosted by Massey University’s Riddet...

Associate Investigator joins Ministry’s research funding board

5 April, 2020 – Riddet Institute Associate Investigator Laura Domigan has been appointed to the government’s Science Board. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) announced the...

Riddet researchers featured in the Listener magazine

4 April 2022 – A New Zealand Listener article on alternative proteins includes comments by Riddet Institute staff and researchers in this week’s edition. The article by Andrea Graves discusses the...

Finger-licking good: Sustainable Foods’ hemp chicken a world-first

Dr Arup Nag, left, Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh and Rick Gain, back, of the Riddet Institute, with Justin Lemmens of Sustainable Foods, and Philip Brown, back, and Andrew Boot of GreenF...

Sustainable nutrition leader appointed Adjunct Professor

Professor Barbara Burlingame has been appointed as an Adjunct Professor by the Riddet Institute in recognition of her professional achievements and leadership in public health nutrition and food s...

DELTA Model showcased in journal

Two recent papers from the Riddet Institute’s sustainable Nutrition InitiativeTM have examined the current importance of dairy and of meat respectively in the supply of food nutrients to the globa...

11 February 2022

Professor Mann honoured with knighthood for life-saving nutrition work

The Riddet Institute congratulates Professor Jim Mann for his citation to be a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours 2022. Professor Mann has been a Principal ...

11 January 2022

Riddet Institute Annual Report 2020-2021

2020-2021 Annual Report We are proud to share our report for the period January 2020 to June 2021, showing exceptional performance and impact from our team of talented researchers. This is our las...

15 December 2021

Yo big eaters, chew slower

Were you trained to eat everything on your plate, down to the last tough silverbeet stalk? Are you a slow or a fast eater? Were you panicked by competing siblings into wolfing down your food? How ...

23 November 2021

Health Research Council funds study of mātauranga Māori (traditional knowledge)

The Mātauranga Kai research project aims to gather pūrākau (stories) about kai from knowledge holders who grew up in provincial towns in Te Tai Tokerau, Taranaki, Tairawhiti and Te Tauihu rohe (re...

15 November 2021

Professor Warren McNabb features on Point of View show

Professor of Human Nutrition at the Riddet Institute, Warren McNabb, gives an interview with Mark Leishman on Point of View. The conversation covers the Riddet Institute and our research, particul...

04 November 2021

Damson plums: a rich source of antioxidants

Riddet Institute research is exploring the bioactive compounds within Damson plums. This research aims to understand the relationship between such compounds and potential health benefits, and has ...

PhD student Jeanette Rapson KiwiNet Finalist for new baby food innovation

Riddet Institute PhD student Jeanette Rapson, founder of freeze-dried baby food company Early Habits, is recognised as one of three student entrepreneur finalists in the 2021 KiwiNet Awards, in th...

Valuable antioxidants in coffee and tea

At some time late last century, coffee preferences split into a score of variants. The sound of baristas drumming out their used beans now reverberates through the CBDs. More recently, ‘old gumboo...

Institute Model a "game changing solution" for sustainable nutrition

Feeding an increasing population sustainably is one of the big challenges of our time. So much so that the United Nations will later this year convene a Food Systems Summit, to launch bold new acti...

Have a good night's sleep with a study on green kiwifruit

A Riddet Institute study examining the effects of green kiwifruit on sleep quality and the sleep-wake cycle in healthy males has been awarded funding of $31,800 over 12 months by the High-Value N...

Success builds a path to higher learning for new Institute Masters student

Kaore he aukati i a koe – “There is no stopping you” is the family proverb for Simone Frame, a new addition to the Riddet Institute team of Postgraduate researchers. Simone (Ngāti Kahungunu me Ngā...

High Profile Appointment for Riddet Institute Board

The Riddet Institute, a world leading Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), and its host Massey University, are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Stuart McCutcheon, as the incomin...

Feed Our Future: A New Zealand Sustainable Food Systems Dialogue

Sustainably feeding a growing population is a global problem, but also one for New Zealand to consider. Where does our reputation for high quality, premium food products fit in a hungrier world? H...

World’s First Hemp-Chicken Pizza From HELL

HELL’s cult classic Death by Chicken Pizza made a comeback in March, but not as fans know it. Locally produced natural hemp-based meat replaced the original buttermilk fried chicken, giving the pi...

Making antioxidants more delicious

The term antioxidant will be familiar to most people. You’ll have an idea that they are good to have in your body to neutralise damaging entities called free radicals. Both antioxidants and free r...

Professor Emerita Mary Earle: A life dedicated to food technology and scholastic endeavour

It is with great sadness that the Riddet Institute acknowledges the passing of Professor Emerita Mary Earle, who died last week, aged 91. Mary was a stalwart of Food Technology at Massey and joine...

Riddet Institute research supporting award winning iwi owned food business

Ka mau te wehi & congratulations to Kaitahi As One, led by Pania Winterburn and Arohaina Owen! The Riddet Institute will support the award winning Kaitahi As One, with research and development...

Dean’s List Success for Riddet Institute Students

“Exceptional quality in every respect”. This year, two Riddet Institute doctoral scholars have been included in the Dean’s List, an award that recognises the top academic performance for postgradu...

Good nutrition starts with bioavailability science

In 2018 the world produced enough calories to feed everyone on Earth. However, distribution was sadly inequitable – about 700 million people still went hungry. And over 30 per cent of food was was...

Professor’s input sought for UN Food Systems Summit

Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan (Riddet Institute Centre of Research Excellence, hosted by Massey University) has been invited to submit a briefing document to the United Nations Food Systems...

New bioactive beverage to be developed using kawakawa, a NZ native species

High-Value Nutrition (HVN) Ko Ngā Kai Whai Painga National Science Challenge has awarded $1,297,299 in funding for research to explore the potential health benefits of incorporating the Aotearoa N...

Food structure really does matter

There is a tendency these days to overthink what goes in our mouths and analyse nutrition in terms of each food component – like carbohydrates or fats. This article does not set out to confuse you...

Pūhoro rangatahi celebrate success on International Day of Women and Girls in Science

It is a variety of perspectives that spark innovation and world-leading science – and this summer we were delighted to host four Pūhoro STEM Academy tauira, three of whom rangatahi wāhine, at Ridd...

11 February 2021

FlavoPlus: a Riddet Institute functional food innovation

Riddet Institute scientists have recently invented a new technology to manufacture a composite ingredient called FlavoPlusTM. This ingredient can be incorporated into functional food products to i...

10 December 2020

Does red meat combat hidden hunger?

Red meat’s place in the human diet as a healthy sustainable food was debated by an expert panel last week, at the launch of a new report released by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ). Professor Warr...

03 December 2020

Professor Clive Davies honoured by the American Institution of Chemical Engineers

Professor Clive Davies, (School of Food and Advanced Technology, Massey University and Riddet Institute Associate Investigator) was honoured by the American Institution of Chemical Engineers (AICh...

30 November 2020

SNI in spotlight at Primary Industries NZ summit

Representatives from industry, policy and research came together last week to attend presentations on trade, sustainability, consumer science and future trends for the primary sector in New Zealan...

30 November 2020

NZ scientists lead the charge to explore benefits of pasture-raised beef and lamb

New Zealanders will be invited to take part in a major research programme to assess the health and well-being benefits of eating pasture-raised beef and lamb, compared to grain-finished beef and p...

19 November 2020

Global Funding announced for the Riddet Institute

The Riddet Institute’s Proteos project has just received $NZ 2.6 mil of further funding, bringing total funding for this global science programme to nearly close to $NZ 5 million over the last f...

16 November 2020

Marsden Funding “getting to the guts” of digestion research

Researchers from the Riddet Institute, based at the University of Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) investigating the human digestive tract, have been awarded over $1 million by Te Pūtea Ra...

12 November 2020

Two Riddet Institute Investigators honoured by NZ Institute of Food Science & Technology

Two Riddet Institute Principal Investigators were honoured this week by the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology. Professor Matt Golding and Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan be...

31 October 2020

Kiwi Fruit & Sleep Study – Participants Wanted!

Are you a male who has difficulty sleeping? We are exploring the effects of kiwifruit on sleep and need participants for a new study taking place in Auckland! For more information – or to express ...

28 October 2020

Riddet Institute iron deficiency technology takes out top commercialisation award

(CEO of Massey Ventures Mark Cleaver and Riddet Institute Scientist Dr Anant Dave collecting their award on behalf of the team) A product that could help some of the 1.6 billion people globally wh...

16 October 2020

Feed our Future

For the global food system to be considered sustainable it must deliver enough nutrients to meet the needs of the global population. Researchers at the Riddet Institute have formed the Sustainable...

15 October 2020

Continued Centre of Research Excellence Funding for the Riddet Institute

The Riddet Institute, hosted by Massey University, has been re-selected as a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and awarded $38.25 million ...

09 October 2020

Future of Food Fund Success for Riddet Institute Researchers

Nine Riddet Institute scientists will be contributing to the future of food joint New Zealand-Singapore programme in four new projects announced today. The New Zealand Government’s Ministry for Bu...

01 October 2020

Prime Minister gets taste of food innovation

The power of science to deliver innovative, sustainable food products was on full display when FoodHQ Partners hosted Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson in Palmers...

18 September 2020

Riddet Institute Annual Report 2019

2019 was yet again another exceptional year at the Riddet Institute and it is with pride that we share this year’s annual report with you. 2019 Annual Report

Riddet Institute science features on 2019 Massey University Deans List

“Research work reported here is not only of exceptional nature and of great importance but also has been carried out very intelligently and ingeniously”, states the examiner’s report on Dr Arup Na...

Trio team up to trial innovative hemp-based food products

The Riddet Institute has partnered with two other New Zealand companies to commercialise an innovative new hemp meat substitute and hemp snack products. The Riddet Institute, Greenfern Industries ...

Riddet Institute gut bacteria researchers study how the whole microbiome functions

You are what you eat. More and more, scientists add that you are also what you feed your microbiome – the collective term for the billions of micro-organisms that live in your colon. Much of your...

HVN Science of Food Webinar Series – Food Regulation

The Riddet Institute-led High-Value Nutrition Science of Food programme hosted a free online seminar in May for SMEs wanting support in the food regulation space – Critical aspects of food regulat...

Riddet Institute scientists excited by the promise of hemp crops

We soon got used to cooking and eating exotic proteins and grains like chickpeas, couscous and quinoa. Now, attention has turned to hemp in the search for other productive, environmentally friendl...

Queens Birthday Honours for Institute Adjunct Professor

Adjunct Professor of the Riddet Institute at Massey University and Fonterra Chief Science & Technology Officer Jeremy Hill, has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for se...

Opinion: Food is our past, present and future economy

It has been gratifying to see New Zealanders giving a heartfelt shout out to our farmers, growers, fishers and food processors as valued Covid-19 frontline heroes. It reminds us of the vital part...

Research partnership established to examine the effects of Mānuka honey on health

NZX-listed natural health products company, Comvita, the Riddet Institute, have formed a new partnership to scientifically research Comvita honey bioactives and their impact on human health. Two j...

Video: What does it mean to be a Riddet Institute PhD Student?

Dr. Tim Angeli is a Senior Research Fellow with the Gastrointestinal (GI) Research Group at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI), University of Auckland and member of the Riddet Institute. ...

Coronavirus: Preserved foods as a good as fresh

Preserved foods, such as canned and frozen vegetables, fruits, chickpeas, lentils, beans of all kinds, tomatoes, and berries are just as good nutritionally as the fresh versions, scientists at the...

New Zealanders needed for two surveys investigating link between COVID-19 and smell loss

New Zealanders who have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of the virus are being urged to participate in two surveys – a global and national one – that aim to better understand how COVID-19 impacts...

Can kiwifruit combat gluten intolerance?

About 60,000 to 70,000 New Zealanders (1.5 per cent) have coeliac disease, which is a serious auto-immune disease, though most are unaware that they have the condition. The body produces antibodie...

Our emotional engagement with food

Getting shoppers to try new food products and negotiating a place for them on the already crammed supermarket shelves is not easy. About 80 per cent of new products fail. Many people, predominantl...

Prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship awarded to early career researcher

Dr Alejandra Acevedo-Fani’s research career is about to take a leap with the award of a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (IF) within the EU Horizon 2020 research programme....

21 February 2020

Comvita-Riddet Institute industry internship starts food product development career

Graduating with a Masters in Food Technology in November and a new job before the end of the year, Varun Gadodia is the first to complete a 10 week Riddet Institute industrial internship at Comvit...

13 December 2019

Beyond Nutrition – can we ensure sustainability?

The 2019 Nutrition Society of New Zealand Conference was hosted by the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) on 28th and 29th November, at their campus in Taradale, Napier, with over 130 delegates...

11 December 2019

HVN Science of Food Webinar Series: Top IP tips for functional foods

Recently the Riddet Institute hosted a quick-fire, lunch’n learn 30 minute HVN Science of Food webinar – the first of a series exploring IP trends and insights in the functional food space. Watch ...

11 December 2019

Honorary doctorate for Dilmah Tea Founder

Massey University today conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree on renowned Dilmah Tea founder Merrill Fernando of Sri Lanka at its Manawatū graduation ceremony, in recognition of his stron...

29 November 2019

Food Structure is everything at FSDH 2019

Food Structures Digestion and Health 2019 in Rotorua saw nearly 250 international and Australasian scientists come together to debate and discuss various aspects of food science, diet and health. ...

18 November 2019

Supercharged Ginseng grown on New Zealand’s fertile volcanic slopes

Ginseng is not a crop you would normally associate with New Zealand. However, crops planted 20 years ago on fertile North Island volcanic land shows it grows very successfully, according to Riddet...

06 November 2019

Is Kiwifruit the Sleep Superfood?

New research is set to reveal why Kiwifruit helps you snooze. A study led by Riddet Institute at Massey University, New Zealand, is investigating the sleep promoting properties of kiwifruit for th...

06 November 2019

National Science Challenge invests $1.75 million in Riddet Institute

The High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge has announced a $1.75 million research investment to continue the Science of Food programme through the Riddet Institute. This programme involve...

Opinion: Healthy diets for a growing world population

New Zealand is a nation of food and beverage producers with our primary industries producing enough food and beverage annually to feed over five to ten times our population. Yet with the world pop...

Riddet Institute welcomes new Māori Member

The Riddet Institute is delighted to announce the appointment of Traci Houpapa MNZM to the Riddet Institute Board. The Institute Board comprises eight members including representatives from each o...

Dr Caroline Giezenaar awarded 2018 Research Medal

Dr Caroline Giezenaar, Riddet Institute Research Fellow, has been awarded the prestigious 2018 Doctoral Research Medal from the University of Adelaide for outstanding research at PhD level. The Un...

Our new Associate Investigator: Dr Kevin Sutton

The Riddet Institute is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Kevin Sutton, Plant & Food Research, as a new Associate Investigator. Dr Sutton is currently the Science Group Leader in Foo...

How do we define a healthy gut?

People think about their gut as a long tube that food goes through and some nutrients are absorbed but it’s an incredibly complex system,” says Professor Nicole Roy, Riddet Institute Adjunct Profe...

Nestlé acquires Riddet Institute technology to help fight iron deficiency

Global food company Nestlé has acquired a novel technology developed by Riddet Institute scientists that will enable it to address iron deficiency. The unique technology, FERRI PRO (TM) was dev...

UKs best food science University formalizes collaboration with the Riddet Institute

The Riddet Institute, hosted by Massey University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Leeds, UK, to formalise the existing relationship between the two institutions. Th...

FoodFort: New tool for functional food designers

The Riddet Institute is pleased to announce the launch of FoodFort. A new tool to help researchers, food manufacturers, food scientists/researchers, lecturers and policy makers, make decisions abo...

Riddet Institute female scientists leading the future of food

A sell out audience packed the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North last week for a breakfast event with eight female leaders across the primary industries. The panel, including three scientists from...

International collaboration with Chinese Academy of Sciences

The Riddet Institute is pleased to announce a formal agreement and research collaboration with the Chinese National Academy of Foods Centre in Beijing. A collaborative research programme and forma...

Riddet Institute Board gains new members

The Riddet Institute, Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Richard Barker and Dr Kieran Elborough to the Institute board. Representatives from...

Agriculture Minister Visits the Institute

The Riddet Institute was proud to host the Minister for Agriculture, Hon Damien O’Connor on his visit to the Manawatū this week. The Minister for Agriculture, Food Safety and Trade and Export Grow...

SING Aotearoa encourages Māori into genetic science

The Riddet Institute has recently joined alongside other supporting organisations with SING ( Summer internship for Indigenous peoples in Genomics) Aotearoa to encourage Māori to study genetic sci...

15 February 2019

Otago University and Riddet Institute nutrition experts call for updated national survey to see what NZ’ers are eating

As dietary factors and obesity have taken over as the key cause of the global burden of disease, University of Otago and Riddet Institute nutrition experts say there’s a desperate need for a natio...

11 February 2019

Top American Honour for Engineering Academic

Professor Clive Davies, Associate Investigator at the Riddet Institute, is now a Fellow of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Clive is the only New Zealand chemical engineer to have...

04 January 2019

Riddet Institute hosts national agrifood summit

The Riddet Institute hosted a national Agrifood Summit attended by food industry leaders, food scientists and governmental policy advisors. The delegates discussed the notion of feeding the growin...

18 December 2018

World’s leading food university awards top medal to NZ professor

The Netherlands’ top university and world leader in food science, life sciences and natural resources research, Wageningen University and Research has awarded its supreme silver medal award to a M...

14 December 2018

Leader of World’s Best Agri-Food University Visiting New Zealand

The Riddet Institute is proud to host the President of the World’s leading Agri-Food University Professor Louise O. Fresco, who is visiting New Zealand in December. Professor Fresco from Wageninge...

02 December 2018

Lifetime Achievement Award for Plant & Food Principal Scientist

Principal Scientist Plant & Food Research and Riddet Institute Fellow, Dr Nigel Larsen, has been presented with the Plant & Food Research Lifetime Achievement Award for his 35 years of con...

12 November 2018

Success in the Marsden Standard Fund

A project led by Riddet Institute Researchers Professor Jameson and Professor Williams was awarded $935,000 by the Royal Society Te Apārangi annual Marsden Fund this week. The project, “ Pectin me...

09 November 2018

Nutrisprinky in the Final: Innovate 2018 Success

Congratulations to Riddet Students Nicole Chen, Sewuese Okubanjo, Sarah Priour and Feng-Ming Chian for making it to the final stage of Innovate 2018. See a highlight video including our students h...

31 October 2018

Jeremy Hill appointed Adjunct Professor at Massey University

The Riddet Institute is honoured to appoint Jeremy Hill as an Adjunct Professor at Massey University in recognition of his professional achievements in dairy science and technology, and his proven...

Organic Mechanic - Microbiome Mega Degustation: A mouthful in more ways than one!

A four course degustation menu focused on the health of the intestinal microbiome may not be part of a scientist’s normal working day, but it was how Riddet Institute and AgResearch scientists Drs...

NZIFST Conference 2018

On Thursday 5th July, the Riddet Institute had a morning presentation session at the New Zealand Institute for Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Conference 2018 held from 3rd – 5th July in Ham...

AgResearch/Riddet Institute Dairy Industry Workshop

The inaugural Dairy Industry Workshop is being held in Palmerston North on the 29th & 30th August 2018. AgResearch Ltd and the Riddet Institute are jointly hosting the Workshop to bring the po...

Riddet Institute Student Society

The Riddet Institute is pleased to announce the launch of a new student initiative: the Riddet Institute Student Society. This society aims to bring all the Riddet Institute students spread across...

Riddet Institute Conference 2018

This year’s Riddet Institute Conference, incorporating the Riddet Institute Student Colloquium 2018, was held at the InterContinental, Wellington over three days in July. The Conference programme ...

Prof Marc Hendrickx speaks at the Riddet Institute

On Friday 6 July 2018 the Riddet Institute was honoured to welcome Prof Marc Hendrickx and invite him to give a seminar on Process structure function relations in plant-based foods. Prof Hendrickx...

Organic Mechanic: Microbiome Mega Degustation

Riddet Institute researchers Dr Matt Barnett (Associate Investigator) and Dr Karl Fraser (Affiliated Researcher) from AgResearch are presenting an exciting new event in conjunction with Shepherd ...

R Paul Singh receives honorary doctorate at Guelph Graduation

On Wednesday 13th June 2018, Riddet Institute Principal Investigator Professor R. Paul Singh visited Guelph University, Canada, for a commencement ceremony at which he received a Doctor of Science...

Ambassador Zaagman visits the Institute

On Wednesday 30 May, the Riddet Institute was honoured to host the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to New Zealand, His Excellency Rob Zaagman. Ambassador Zaagman has been a long-stand...

South Island Enterprise & Innovation Workshop Success

Over a week in May, South Island Riddet Institute students had the opportunity to undertake the Enterprise and Innovation workshop led by Dr Chris Kirk which was first hosted by the Institute in J...

Riddet Institute in Top Cited Articles of Journal of Nutrition

Science Excellence is synonymous with the Riddet Institute and this is most abundantly clear in our research outputs. In 2016 and 2017 respectively we published over 200 journal articles, of which...

Student Team Win at Go Innovate! Competition

On 2nd May 2018, a team of Riddet Institute students participated in the Go Innovate competition run by eCentre and Massey University at the Turitea Palmerston North Massey University campus. The ...

Riddet Institute Overseas Placement Award: Feng Ming Chian

In 2017, the Riddet Institute began offering financial support to PhD students for Overseas Placements of up to 6 months. The main purpose of these overseas placements is for Riddet Institute PhD ...

Prof Elliot Gilbert’s Visit to Riddet Institute

On 27th March, Prof Elliot Gilbert (Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) visited the Riddet Institute and gave a presentation on Small ...

Let’s Nip It In the Bud Alzheimer’s Talk

On 28th March, Professor Ralph Martins – the Foundation Professor and Inaugural Chair in Ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease at Edith Cowan University, Perth and a Professor of Biomedical Sciences at M...

Prof Martins’ Radio Interview on Alzheimer’s Talk

On Monday 19th March, Professor Ralph Martins (Macquarie University, Sydney) was interviewed on 92.2FM radio about his upcoming free public talk about Alzheimer’s disease. The interview discussed ...

Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh becomes sole Director of the Riddet Institute

There is a change in the leadership of the Riddet Institute with Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan stepping down as co-director and Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh becoming sole directo...

The Riddet Institute reveals its new Te Reo strapline

Many of you will have noticed that in 2017 the Riddet Institute updated its strapline to “Advancing Frontiers in Food Science” – a phrase that better reflects our core values of research excellenc...

09 February 2018

What does It Mean to be a Riddet Institute PhD Student?

It was our great pleasure to have Dr Tim Angeli (Senior Research Fellow, Auckland Institute of Bioengineering) come to Riddet Institute HQ in Palmerston North to give a repeat performance of his p...

19 January 2018

Foods in a Digital World Book Launch

We live in a world that is changing very quickly as a result of ever-improving digital communication. This has profound implications for our food industry. We can expect substantial change over th...

28 November 2017

Delivery of Functionality 2017

This year’s Delivery of Functionality Conference, hosted by the Riddet Institute from 5th – 8th November in Auckland, was the perfect opportunity for discussion, collaboration and networking, with...

14 November 2017

FSDH2017 Award Goes to Riddet Institute Student

The Riddet Institute would like to congratulate Anika Hoogeveen , a Riddet Institute PhD student, on her win at the Food Structure, Digestion and Health Conference 2017 held in Sydney, Australia f...

31 October 2017

Newest Riddet Institute Principal Investigator: Prof Joanne Hort

As well as becoming the Riddet Institute’s latest PI, Professor Joanne Hort has recently been appointed at Massey University as the Fonterra Riddet Chair in Consumer and Sensory Science. Previousl...

The Riddet Institute brings its science to schools

For two weeks in July, members of the Food Innovation Team from Riddet Innovation visited Pūhoro STEM Academy schools and demonstrated and taught some interesting science experiments. These intera...

Inaugural Riddet Institute Enterprise & Innovation Workshop

On Wednesday 7th & 14th July 2017, the Riddet Institute hosted the Inaugural Enterprise & Innovation Workshop for PhD students, led by Dr Chris Kirk. Dr Kirk is a specialist in the cutting...

Successful Singaporean Visit

On Tuesday 9th May 2017, the Riddet Institute welcomed a Singaporean delegation of 18 significant members of SPRING, A*STAR, Jurong Town Council (JTC), Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), Fo...

Dr Jane Mullaney moves back to NZ to pursue career at AgResearch

After ex-Riddet Institute scholar Dr Jane Mullaney graduated from Massey she took up a post-doctoral position with the University of Queensland’s Diamantina Institute (UQDI), which is partnered wi...

Visit of Hon Paul Goldsmith to Riddet Institute

On Wednesday 19th April 2017 Hon Paul Goldsmith, the new Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment and Minister of Science and Innovation, visited the Riddet Institute to meet its tal...

Smart Foods Workshop - Foods, Diet, Nutrition in the coming Digital Age

This workshop was held in Palmerston North on 13 February 2017. The new digital age is changing the world in ways that are not yet fully appreciated, and this gives New Zealand agribusiness the po...

13 February 2017

New Deputy Director at the Riddet Institute

Massey University’s Riddet Institute is today welcoming Professor Warren McNabb, as the Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) deputy director. Professor McNabb joins Massey following his most recen...

18 October 2016

Massey researchers awarded $1.5m for High-Value Nutrition Research

Research led by Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh, Head of the Massey Institute of Food Science and Technology, and Co-Director of Riddet Institute, has been awarded $1.5 million of funding ...

04 October 2016

7th International Symposium on Delivery of Functionality in Complex Food Systems

The Riddet Institute are the organisers of this event which will be held at the Rendezvous Hotel, Auckland, from 5-8 November 2017. DOF 2017 is the primary platform for presenting new scientific d...

A Festschrift fit for a scholar

A traditional academic celebration, Festchrift, was held on 13 July 2016 to mark the retirement of Professor Peter Munro. After an illustrious career, and nine years at Massey University, Professo...

Renewed funding for Riddet Institute

New Zealand’s premier centre for fundamental and strategic scientific research in food, the Riddet Institute hosted by Massey University, has been selected once again as a Centre of Research Excel...

Leading New Zealand food scientist elected a Fellow of the United States Institute of Food Technologists

Riddet Institute Co-director, Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh has been elected a Fellow of the United States Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). IFT is the largest union of food scienti...

New Zealand scientist appointed to global food and nutrition security think tank

Radio Interview – http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20167352 The world’s leading science academy body has set up a four-person think tank to report on ways to reduce the number of chronically ...

11 February 2015

Riddet Institute collaborates with Nutricia

Fundamental research on food structures will be carried out as a result of a collaboration between Nutricia NZ Ltd and the Riddet Institute, one of New Zealand’s government-funded Centres of Resea...

05 February 2015

New Zealand scientist attains international pinnacle in his field

The Riddet Institute’s Principal Investigator, Professor of Food Chemistry Laurie Melton, has been appointed as an editor of the prestigious Elsevier publication, Food Chemistry. Food Chemistry is...

05 February 2015

Research and development relationship about to pay dividends

Goodman Fielder’s two and half-year relationship with the Riddet Institute has led to the filing of three patents; one for a baking product with enhanced health properties and the other two for da...

16 January 2015

New generation of nutritional products

The development of a stable delivery system for key health enhancing properties could soon be applied to general foodstuffs thanks to the efforts of a team of scientists from the Riddet Institute....

16 January 2015

Funding awarded for AFL project

Dr Abby Thompson, Food Innovation Manager, has been successful in her application for $180,000 over two years as part of the Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund through the Ministry of Business, Inn...

08 October 2014

Exciting new opportunity for Riddet Institute graduate

The Riddet Institute has a key role in supporting the personal and professional development of the next generation of food and nutrition scientists for positions in both academia and industry. Gra...

09 September 2014

Kiwifruit makes the cover of The Journal of Nutrition

A recent paper by Dr Carlos Montoya and colleagues was selected as the focus of the front cover of The Journal of Nutrition . Montoya’s colleagues included Dr Jason Hindmarsh, Lucrecia Gonzalez, D...

Collaboration with prestigious French research centre

The Riddet Institute is part of an exciting and wide-ranging collaboration with the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), one of Europe’s leading research centres. Both inst...

Driving dairy innovation with new agreement

Fonterra Cooperative Ltd. and the Riddet Institute have signed a new research agreement that will see the two organisations collaborating on innovation projects to drive value in Fonterra’s globa...

Recognition for Riddet Institute scientist

Professor Richard Archer, one of the Riddet Institute’s Principal Investigators, has been recognised for his substantial contribution to science and technology and leadership. He was awarded the N...

Student explores the tiny world of microRNAs

Ivy Men, a Riddet Institute PhD student at AgResearch, is exploring whether a type of small molecule called microRNA (miRNA) that is found in various food sources may survive the process of digest...

Food structure book provides the link between food, digestion, and health

Academic Press (Elsevier) has published the first edition of “Food Structures, Digestion, and Health” edited by Mike Boland, Matt Golding, and Harjinder Singh. The book has been developed from a s...

Principal Scientist appointed a Fellow of the NZIFST

Principal Scientist and Executive Officer Dr Mike Boland has been appointed a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) at their recent conference in Christchurch...

In Memory of a World-Leading Food Scientist

Professor Jim Harper (1923-2014), Faculty Emeritus at Ohio State University (USA), passed away on the 13 July. Professor Jim Harper was well known to many in the New Zealand food industry as a lea...

Milk Protein book covers everything from Biology to Industry

Academic Press (Elsevier) has published the second edition of “Milk Proteins: From Expression to Food ” edited by Harjinder Singh, Mike Boland, and Abby Thompson. This book follows on from the fir...

Riddet co-director receives international accolade

Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan, co-director of the Riddet Institute, has been awarded an honorary Doctorate in Science from the University of Guelph in Canada, for his significant academic c...

Indian dairy collaboration

The Riddet Institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), India’s premier dairy research institute. The Riddet Institute is one of seve...

23 February 2014

UK Science Alliance

The Riddet Institute has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UK’s Institute of Food Research (IFR), a world leader in food and health research. The Riddet Institute is one of...

18 February 2014

Honorary Doctorate for Riddet Co-director

Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan has been internationally honoured for his contribution to science, which is helping malnourished children in the developing world. Professor Moughan, who co-di...

17 February 2014

Breakthrough in gut health

Riddet Institute research has led to the development of a highly original new approach with implications for disorders such as colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Dulantha Ulluwishewa, a Riddet ...

29 November 2013

Award for Principal Investigator

Professor Gerald Tannock of the University of Otago has been awarded a James Cook Research Fellowship by the Royal Society of New Zealand. The funding will allow him to concentrate for the next tw...

27 November 2013

French scientists to analyse “sous-vide” meat cooking

A new French/New Zealand research alliance of importance to the meat industry has been announced between INRA (France) and the Riddet Institute. The work will be funded by the Dumont D’Urville NZ-...

01 November 2013

MBIE Probiotic foods for India funding bid successful

The Riddet Institute has secured $200,000 in funding from MBIE over two years to develop probiotic foods for India. Institute co-director Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh said, “Our aim is ...

11 September 2013

New kiwifruit book published

Riddet Institute co-director Professor Paul Moughan and Principal Scientist Mike Boland are editors of a comprehensive new book on the nutritional benefits of kiwifruit, which has just been publis...

15 February 2013

FAO report on dietary protein quality now online

The FAO report proposing a new method of describing dietary protein quality has been released and is available from the FAO website. The report proposes replacing the current PDCAAS method with Di...

15 February 2013

Riddet Institute co-directors win New Zealand’s premier science prize

Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan and Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh, world leaders in food protein science, have won the premier science award in New Zealand, the Prime Minister’s Sci...

29 November 2012

Dietary Protein Symposium proceedings published

The Riddet Institute, supported by FAO and Health Canada, organised the International Symposium on Dietary Protein for Human Health 2011. It was held at SkyCity Auckland from 27-20 March 2011. The...

15 November 2012

Visitor from Argentina looking for food and beverage industry partnerships

Prime Minister’s Fellow for Argentina, Dr Daniel Funes de Rioja, visited the Riddet Institute today. Dr Rioja is President of the Argentinean Food and Beverage Industry Coordinating Body and is in...

Riddet Institute sponsors Tararua College foodtech students

The Riddet Institute is sponsoring the Tararua College team through the CREST Student Product Development Challenge. Tararua College year 12 students Cheyenne Oosthuizen and Leah Jellyman are invo...

Agri-food strategy a ‘Call to Arms’

An independent report on the future of New Zealand’s agri-food sector is calling for a joint approach from industry and government to drive the activities needed to treble the value of exports by ...

Student makes front cover of BioPhysical journal

Riddet Institute PhD scholar Davide Mercandante is principal author of an article that has led to the cover image on the latest issue of BioPhysical Journal, a prestigious publication published by...

Researchers edit special issue of Food Chemistry on potato research

A special issue of the journal, Food Chemistry , containing the latest research on potato chemistry and edited by three Riddet Institute researchers, has been released by international academic pu...

Massey Medal awarded to Dutch couple

The Massey University Medal has been jointly awarded to Professor Martin Verstegen and Mrs Mariet Verstegen-Spiertz of the Netherlands in recognition of their work in support of agriculture and fo...

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...

Riddet Institute researchers make the cover of Food & Function

The Riddet Institute has the cover story in the March 2012 issue of Food and Function journal. The paper, Influence of gastric digestive reaction on subsequent in vitro intestinal digestion of sod...

Co-director receives Massey Research Medal

Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan was presented with the Massey Research Medal – Individual, at the university’s Defining Excellence Awards on Wednesday 21 March in Wellington. Professor Mougha...

Riddet Institute conference on future food research acclaimed as ground-breaking

The Riddet Institute’s international conference, Food Structures, Digestion & Health, held last week in Palmerston North, has been acclaimed as setting the direction for food research and deve...

Medals for Riddet Institute Researchers

Professor Harjinder Singh, co-director of the Riddet Institute, and Professor Geoffrey Jameson, Principal Investigator, have been awarded New Zealand Association of Scientists medals. Professor Si...

11 November 2011

Riddet Institute to launch new book in early December

The Riddet Institute is launching Floreat Scientia in early December, to celebrate New Zealand’s innovations in agrifood. Comprising 43 chapters and 41 different authors, this fully illustrated ha...

31 October 2011

Riddet Institute research paper most highly cited

Riddet Institute researchers Dr Jaspreet Singh and Dr Lovedeep Kaur have been notified by the journal, Food Hydrocolloids, that their paper is the most highly cited paper published in the last fiv...

Riddet Institute co-director receives J.C. Andrews award

Riddet Institute co-director Professor Harjinder Singh was last night presented with the J.C Andrews Award, the New Zealand Institute of Food, Science and Technology’s (NZIFST) most prestigious aw...

Award for Riddet Institute’s ProBioLife technology

he Riddet Institute last night received the NZIFST Food Industry Award for Excellence in Innovation for its ProBioLife technology. The award was presented to Dr Shantanu Das, the Riddet Institute’...

Co-director made Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry

Professor Paul Moughan, co-director of the Riddet Institute, has been admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, which is based in Cambridge, England. Professor Moughan was invited to...

FAO Expert Consultation a first in New Zealand

FAO is holding an Expert Consultation on dietary protein quality in Auckland from 31 March to 2 April. This is the first time a meeting of this type has been held in Australasia. Top scientists fr...

New Fonterra Chair in Food Materials Science

Dairy Co-operative Fonterra and national centre of research excellence the Riddet Institute today announced the establishment of a new Massey University Fonterra Chair in Food Material Science. Em...

21 February 2011

Minister launches PROTEOS project

Partnership strengthened with launch of new project Agriculture Minister David Carter today in Wageningen launched a joint programme between the Netherlands and New Zealand aimed at solving global...

20 October 2010

Riddet Institute seals major Korean collaboration

The Riddet Institute, hosted by Massey University, and the Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a collaborative research programme on health...

04 October 2010

Green kiwifruit aids digestion

Research confirms ZESPRI® GREEN Kiwifruit can assist protein breakdown for better digestion New research conducted in New Zealand has confirmed what many working in health and nutrition fields h...

Prestigious award for Riddet PhD scholar

Riddet Institute PhD scholar Anwesha Sarkar has received the 6th NIZO Elsevier Young Scientist Award.

19 October 2009

How much protein can you digest from your food?

Average protein content (g per 100 g of food), protein digestibility (%) and bioavailable protein (g per 100 g of food) for each food group Food Group Protein Content on average (g for 100 g ...

04 November 2008

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