Two Department of Food Science and Technology school members within the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have acquired 2023 Institute of Food Technologists Achievement Awards.

The Institute of Food Technologists, IFT, is a discussion board by which meals science professionals and technologists can collaborate, study and contribute towards inspiring and reworking scientific data into options. These awards acknowledge a person or staff for exceptional contributions in analysis, functions and repair within the meals science occupation.

Mian Nadeem Riaz, Ph.D., affiliate head of the Department of Food Science, acquired the International Food Security Award in honor of Bor S. Luh, and Rebecca Creasy, Ph.D., educational assistant professor, acquired the Excellence in Education Award in honor of William V. Cruess.

International Food Security Award

The International Food Security Award in honor of Bor S. Luh acknowledges somebody who has made substantial advances in how meals might be manufactured and made accessible to fulfill the dietary wants and meals preferences of individuals residing in rising economies in a fashion that’s cost-effective for each customers and producers.

Riaz, additionally the holder of the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, IFANCA, Professorship in Food Diversity, established two meals processing facilities at two universities in his native Pakistan, in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of my team, colleagues and partners who share the same passion for advancing food science and technology to address global food and nutrition security challenges,” Riaz stated.

Riaz hopes the award will encourage extra worldwide cooperation and data alternate within the area of meals range and extrusion expertise, which may result in progressive options that profit rising economies and past.

“I am grateful for the support of my department, Texas A&M, and IFANCA, who have provided the platform and resources for me to pursue my passion and make a meaningful impact in the world,” he stated.

Riaz joined Texas A&M 30 years in the past after finishing his doctorate in meals science on the University of Maine. From 2005 to 2020, he was director of Texas A&M’s Process Engineering Research and Development Center. He at the moment serves as director of Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Extrusion Program, the place he affords 5 extrusion programs yearly.

Riaz additionally teaches the favored meals science course, “Religious and Ethnic Foods,” which boasts greater than 1,000 enrolled college students every semester. The course is a capstone within the Food Diversity Innovation Program, which he established from a $5 million IFANCA endowment.   

He has revealed seven books, 27 guide chapters and 160 papers, along with giving greater than 600 talks in 60 totally different nations. His guide, “Halal Food Production,” is used broadly in universities for meals science college students and has been translated into Chinese, Persian and Korean.

Excellence in Education Award 

The Excellence in Education Award is introduced to a person who has at the least 10 years of educating expertise at a college providing a level in meals science or meals expertise and who teaches programs that deal instantly with meals science and/or meals expertise.

Creasy’s expertise in meals science and diet ranges from the meals trade to larger schooling and group outreach. Her educational focus at Texas A&M contains introductory meals science and human diet programs, examine overseas packages, internship packages and different high-impact studying experiences. She additionally serves because the Texas A&M IFT Student Association chapter school advisor.

“The meaning of this award is so special, with the nomination process and recommendations coming from current and former students and colleagues,” she stated. “The knowledge of igniting a passion for food science in students and recognition of effectively mentoring the future leaders of the industry as well as helping them reach personal and professional goals makes my career worthwhile and meaningful.” 

Along with mentoring each graduate and undergraduate college students, her scholarly pursuits combine meals science and diet, together with:

— Development and implementation of lively studying strategies for meals science and diet programs.
— Development of STEM outreach packages for youth in meals science and diet.
— Consumer schooling addressing bioactive meals components.
— Functional meals and secure meals dealing with.
— The results of meals processing on nutrient content material.

Creasy is an lively member of the IFT and American Society for Nutrition. She can be a member of Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society of Food Scientists, Gamma Sigma Delta International Agricultural Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

 “The academic giants, on whose shoulders I have stood and who have previously won this award, make this an even more special event,” Creasy stated. “My goal is to create leaders in food science who can make impactful, positive changes in the world. “I’m hoping that one day some of these students might be recognized with this same award, which is one of the most prestigious honors that a food science educator can receive.”

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