9 October 2000 Top Food Science and Technology Institute honour for Lincoln biochemist

Lincoln University nutritional biochemist Dr Geoffrey Savage has been awarded the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology's highest distinction, a Fellowship, at the Institute's annual conference dinner in Auckland last night. (Sunday 8.10.2000.) (Conference runs till Tuesday p.m.)

Dr Savage, this year's sole recipient of an Institute Fellowship, joins a select band of FNZIFST holders. His award recognises a substantial contribution to the profession through outstanding service in research and development leading to the creation of new knowledge; technology transfer and education; and development of the affairs of the Institute at branch and national levels.

A senior lecturer in food biochemistry in Lincoln University's Animal and Food Sciences Division, Dr Savage was elected earlier this year to the Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand, representing Food Science, Nutrition and Health Technology.

He has been a member of NZIFST for about 10 years, a branch committee and branch chairperson over 1992-1994 and a member of the editorial committee of the New Zealand Food Journal for five years.

He assisted with editing and publishing the 1992 version of Good Manufacturing Practice in the Food Industry and is himself the author of seven books, 12 book chapters and some 100 refereed articles on food chemistry and nutrition.

In addition to his Lincoln post he teaches a food chemistry course at a university in Sweden – part of Lincoln's suite of international linkages – and is involved with a wide range of food related projects with his research students. He has contributed to the development of the food industry in Canterbury through research for local food companies, particularly for the nut tree and wasabi industries.

He is a Registered Nutritionist and is currently President of the Nutrition Society of New Zealand, having been an active member for 15 years, with 10 years of that as a Council member and editor of the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society's annual conference.

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

Dr Geoffrey Savage, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand