13 June 2001 Strong background in application of plant science

A plant molecular biologist, Professor Brian Jordan has come to Lincoln University from Massey University where he was Director of Nutrition and Health in the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health.

He succeeds soil scientist Professor Ian Cornforth who headed the Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division from us formation in 1998 and left the University at the end of last year to move to Auckland.

Professor Jordan has over 20 years experience in plant biochemistry and molecular biology. He was a Principal Scientific Officer at Horticulture Research International, UK, until 1994.

Coming to New Zealand, he worked for Crop and Food Research as a programme leader in genetic engineering and then as the CRI's Food Science and Technology Divisional Manager.

As manager Professor Jordan was responsible for wide-ranging research including genetic manipulation, seafood, cereal and vegetable food, nutrition and food quality.

He has carried out research at the Carnegie Institute at Stanford University, North Carolina State University and the CS/RO, Australia.

In 1998 he was invited to act as a United Nations Environmental Programme reviewer. That position made specific use of his knowledge of UV-B radiation effects on plants and the implications of increased UV-B resulting from stratospheric ozone depletion.

Professor Jordan is an expert adviser on genetic engineering to the Australia New Zealand Food Authority and has worked closely with the Foundation for Research Science and Technology. He attended last year's OECD conference in Edinburgh on the "Scientific and Health Aspects of Genetically Modified Foods" providing scientific and technical support to the New Zealand delegation.

He has recently been invited to serve on the International Scientific Commission for the XXVI International Horticultural Congress in Toronto next year, covering biotechnology and floriculture.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.