NZFSSRC: Christmas greetings and latest news

Kia ora tatou, members, associates, and friends of the NZ Food Safety Science & Research Centre

Meri Kirihimete / Christmas greetings

This message is to thank you for your interest, support and engagement during a challenging year, one in which the Centre’s contract with MBIE will come to an end.

At the Centre’s Annual Symposium in July, the Honourable Andrew Hoggard, Minister for Food Safety, Massey University’s Provost, Professor Giselle Byrnes (representing Massey University as the Centre’s Host), and Vincent Arbuckle, Deputy Director General Food Safety, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), formally announced their support for the Centre’s new funding arrangements which includes a new three-way co-funding agreement commencing from 1 January 2025. This new agreement will see Massey University, New Zealand Food Safety (MPI) and our NZ food industry partners co-invest in a tripartite funding model.  We are immensely grateful to Giselle, Vince, and our Chair, Collier Isaacs, for their patient and determined work on this. We were delighted by the strong endorsement of the Centre’s kaupapa from Massey University, New Zealand Food Safety and our many industry partners. We also want to thank MBIE for their funding to date, which made it possible for us to establish the Centre, and for the continued support of our industry partners.

The Centre already has several important research projects lined-up to start in January 2025.

In 2025 we will hold our Annual Symposium as part of the NZ Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) conference in Palmerston North, from June 24-26. This will also be the 60^th Anniversary of NZIFST and will be a time for great celebration, we suggest you put it in your diary now!

From members’ and partners’ points of view there will be a seamless transition from the Centre’s current way of operating to our new funding model; however, behind the scenes, some changes have had to be made to reduce our operating budget. These changes have included reducing the size of the Governance Board and some Centre staff time and associated costs. The Centre will also hold fewer face-to-face governance and administrative meetings while aiming to maintain as many face-to-face meetings with industry and industry task force groups as possible. Finally, embedding our annual symposium content in the NZIFST conference will not only save us money but will support the NZIFST; this change will provide NZIFST with valuable sponsorship and administrative support.

It’s been quite a year and one in which we have been immensely proud and humbled by the support and trust you have shown in the Centre.

NZFSSRC Team