The purpose of the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre is to protect and enhance the reputation of food produced in New Zealand and to protect public health.

Food safety is important for New Zealand.  Food industry exports make a major contribution to our economy, and our ability to protect and increase our international trade in food products, as well as protect the health of New Zealanders, depends on our food safety system. Industry, regulators and Government in New Zealand have recognised the need for collective investment to help ensure continued market access.

Science and research are essential for managing food safety risks and preventing new food safety issues arising. The New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre has been set up to co-ordinate food safety research and provide a collective resource that will further enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a source of safe food.

The Centre provides a focal point for food safety science and research, bringing together the considerable expertise and resources of three Crown Research Institutes, three Universities and the Cawthron Institute in a unique partnership with government and industry.  It provides an internationally credible voice for food safety, providing a strong science base for decision-making in public health and the food industry.

Vision
Vision

New Zealand is recognised as a world leader for producing and delivering safe food.

Mission
Mission

Deliver high-quality science and research to assure the provision of safe food, through a partnership between industry, government, iwi and research organisations.

New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre Organisation Chart May 2016




The Science

Underpinning our science strategy and delivery is a capability matrix which allows the Centre to develop the best science teams to deliver high-quality science and research to enable the provision of safe food through a partnership between industry, government, iwi and research organisations.

By 2025, the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre will deliver high-quality science and research to enable the provision of safe food through a partnership between industry, government, iwi and research organisations.

 

The scope of research to be undertaken by the Centre falls into four themes:

 

Advanced Diagnostic

Advanced diagnostic tools and analytics: Developing, harmonising and implementing new diagnostic tools.

Risk landscape: Understanding the source and propagation of hazards along the food chain.

Risk mitigation: Prevention and control of hazards in the food chain, from primary production to consumer.

Market and perceptions: Improving our understanding of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of key stakeholders in food safety, and identifying new approaches to risk communication.

 

Three capability platforms provide the focus for the development and application of research and technology fundamental to the delivery of each of the four themes:

 

Market and Perceptions

'Omics' and related technologies: Supplying essential technology for the development of advanced diagnostic tools.

Chemometrics: Aiding the detection of chemical hazards and unique chemical 'signatures' for provenance and traceability.

Big data, social media and information technology: Making sense of multiple, linked sources of information to aid food safety decision making.

Research outcomes may require input from more than one capability platform.

 

 


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