Massey University Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh has become the first New Zealander to receive the 2018 American Dairy Science Association Distinguished Service Award.

The Riddet Institute director received the award during a ceremony at the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) annual meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee. The award recognises unusually outstanding and consistent contributions to the welfare of the dairy industry.

Professor Singh is a world-renowned food scientist and a major figure in the development of dairy science research.

His contributions to dairy science in the United States have been recognised previously by ADSA through other prestigious awards – the International Dairy Foods Association Research Award in Dairy Foods in 2015 and the Marschall Rhodia International Dairy Science Award in 2001. In 2008, he was awarded the William Haines Dairy Science Award by the California Dairy Research Foundation.

Professor Singh’s research has had a major international impact, both in the dairy industry and academic community.

He has published more than 350 peer-reviewed papers in international journals and has mentored over 60 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. He has also shown great skill as a leader, both in his role leading Riddet Institute, but also heading the School of Food and Nutrition, and the Massey Institute of Food Science and Technology from 2015-17.

Source: Massey University