By the:

    Our Work

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.
    Success is never the work of one, but the work of the whole team.

    Research

    The iOTA Model®

    (In development)

    The iOTA Model® is an optimisation model for sustainable diets: how can diets shift to be affordable, nutritious, and minimise their environmental impact, while still being acceptable to the consumer?

     

    The Aotearoa NZ Model

    (In development)

    Kai Anamata mō Aotearoa is a collaborative programme, funded by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and co-led with Wakatū Incorporation, which will create a modelling tool exploring future scenarios in the Aotearoa New Zealand food system. This interactive tool will allow food system decision makers to see the holistic impacts of proposed changes to our national and regional food systems, as well as testing their resilience to future disruption.

    The DELTA Model®

    The DELTA Model® is a global food system mass balance that uses information about current production of major food items to predict the nutrition available to the average global citizen both now and in the future.

    Nutrient Trade Model

     

    The Nutrient Trade Model tracks how foods and the nutrients within them flow between countries.

    Fermentation Produced Protein Model

    The Fermentation Produced Protein Model demonstrates the implications of this technology at a globally relevant scale on various economic, environmental, and nutrient supply outcomes.

    Collaboration

    New Zealand

    AgResearch
    • Collaborator of the Aotearoa New Zealand Model
    Beef & Lamb NZ
    • Collaborating on engagement with external media where SNi® expertise is relevant to current affairs relating to the meat industry
    • Speaking on SNi® results relevant to the meat industry at events
    Fonterra
    • Coordination of external communications where SNi® results have relevance to the dairy sector
    • Disseminating SNi® results on globally sustainable nutrition through relevant arms of Fonterra to inform their staff
    • Participation in Nutrition Summit, including creation of video collateral for Fonterra platforms
    Food Nation
    • Collaborative student project on the role of Food Nation products in a sustainable diet
    Landcare Manaaki Whenua
    • Collaborator of the Aotearoa New Zealand Model
    Lincoln University
    • Collaborator of the Aotearoa New Zealand Model
    Ministry for Business, Innovation & Employment
    • Funding for the Aotearoa NZ National Model
    Ministry of Primary Industries
    • Dr Nick Smith is a current member of Te Puna Whakaaronui Thought Leaders Group
    • Modelling nutrient trade in the APEC region
    • Investigating the climate impacts of the NZ diet
    • Submission of 'game-changing solutions' to the United Nations Food Systems Summit
    Pūhoro STEMM Academy
    • Providing summer student internships for Māori students and young scientists
    University of Otago 
    • DELTA Model used in teaching at Masters and undergraduate level 
    Wakatū Incorporation
    • Co-leading the Aotearoa NZ National Model, facilitating tikanga-led, land use opportunities and Mātauranga to develop opportunities in sustainably produced nutrition, health and wellbeing of people and our environment
    Zespri
    • Research projects on the role of kiwifruit in sustainable nutrition

    Internationally

    Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
    • Prof Warren McNabb selected member of the Scientific Advisory Committee informing a ‘comprehensive and evidence-based global assessment of the contribution of livestock to food security, sustainable food systems, nutrition and healthy diets’
    • Prof McNabb and Dr Nick Smith contributed to reviewing FAO documents on this topic
    Global Dairy Platform
    • Creating an optimisation model for sustainable healthy diets: iOTA Model®
    GOAL Sciences
    • Co-supervision of student working on global animal feed modelling
    ILSI & San Diego State University (USA)
    • Scientific collaborators on research project identifying calcium bioavailability in different foods
    Monash University (Australia)
    • DELTA Model® used in MSc in Food Science and Agribusiness program
    • Several SNi® research projects undertaken by Monash students
    • Co-supervision of a Monash Masters student on comparing nutrient adequacy conclusions when using supply data versus consumption data
    The Gates Foundation
    • Funding for the Kenyan National Model
    University of Tasmania (Australia)
    • Collaboration on modelling the contribution of seafood and aquaculture to the flow of nutrients consumed globally. This will be included in SNi® models, starting with the DELTA Model®
    University of São Paulo (Brazil)
    • Collaborative research on global nutrient trade
    • Articles written for SNi® website
    University of Lincoln (UK)
    • DELTA Model® used to inform research
    • Articles written for SNi® website
    University of Padova (Italy)
    • DELTA Model® used in teaching
    Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands)
    • Scientific partners on Global Animal Production Database project
    • DELTA Model® used in MSc in Nutritional Sciences program, as well as specific summer school and masterclass courses
    • Hosted multiple WUR students and staff
    • Co-supervision of a Monash Masters student on comparing nutrient adequacy conclusions when using supply data versus consumption data
    • Articles written for SNi® website
    Peer-reviewed Scientific Papers

    Evaluation of Protein Adequacy From Plant-Based Dietary Scenarios in Simulation Studies: A Narrative Review. The Journal of Nutrition.

    Soh, BXP, Smith NW, von Hurst P, McNabb WC (2023).

    Evolution of global food trade network and its effects on population nutritional status. Current Research in Food Science.

    Silvestrini MM, Smith NW, Sarti FM (2023).

    The role of meat in the human diet: evolutionary aspects and nutritional value. Animal Frontiers.

    Leroy F, Smith NW, Adesogan AT, Beal T, Iannotti L, Moughan PJ, Mann N (2023).

    Comparison of carbon footprint and water scarcity footprint of milk protein produced by cellular agriculture and the dairy industry. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment.

    Behm K, Nappa M, Aro N, Welman A, Ledgard S, Suomalainen M, Hill JP (2022).

    Estimating cropland requirements for global food system scenario modeling. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.

    Smith NM, Fletcher AJ, Millard P, Hill JP, McNabb WC (2022).

    Modelling the contribution of meat to global nutrient availability. Frontiers in Nutrition.

    Smith NW, Fletcher AJ, Hill JP, McNabb WC (2022).

    Modelling the contribution of milk to global nutrition. Frontiers in Nutrition.

    Smith NW, Fletcher AJ, Hill JP, McNabb WC (2022).

    Nutritional assessment of plant-based beverages in comparison to bovine milk. Frontiers in Nutrition.

    Smith NW, Dave AC, Hill JP, McNabb WC (2022).

    The Role of Holistic Nutritional Properties of Diets in the Assessment of Food System and Dietary Sustainability. Advances in Nutrition.

    Dave LA, Hodgkinson S, Roy NC, Smith NW, McNabb WC (2021).

    Animal and Plant Sourced Nutrition: Complementary not Competitive. Animal Production Science.

    Smith NW, Fletcher AJ, Hill JP, McNabb WC (2021).

    Use of the DELTA Model® to understand the food system and global nutrition. Journal of Nutrition.

    Smith NW, Fletcher AJ, Dave LA, Hill JP, McNabb WC (2021).

    Lifetime Climate Impacts of Diet Transitions: A Novel Climate Change Accounting Perspective. Sustainability.

    Barnsley JE, Chandrakumar C, Gonzalez-Fischer C, Eme PE, Bourke BEP, Smith NW, Dave LA, McNabb WC, Clark H, Frame DJ, Lynch J, Roche JR (2021).

    Media Articles
    1. Announcement of the MBIE funding for the National Model picked up by multiple New Zealand media outlets, September 2023.
      a. Rural Exchange 
    2. “Iron Awareness Week 2023” Thought for Food August 2023, Dr Mahya Tavan and Pat Soh, carried by:
      a. The Conversation - with 26,981 Reads and 24 republications, as at 2 October 2023
      b. Newsable podcast 
      c. R1 News, Radio One 91FM (Otago Student radio station) 
    3. “Is lab-grown meat better for the environment?”, Dr Mahya Tavan and Paul Wood, Thought for Food June 2023 carried by: 
      a. 360info
      b.       Canberra Times
      c. Newcastle Herald
      d. Daily Liberal
      e.       By 23 August, the article had been republished 92 times, by outlets with a combined reach of roughly 10.75 million. 
    4. American Society for Nutrition released an article on how they are "rethinking food systems to promote food and nutrient sustainability" in their journals. The DELTA Model® paper is one of the four papers they highlight as their journals' contribution.
    5. Massey scientists are cream of the crop at international dairy award. Stuff July 2022
        1. Dr Nick Smith receives 3rd place in IDF Professor Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize. IDF. July 2022
    6. Segment on Rural Delivery, TVNZ. April 2022 
    7. Dr Jacqueline Rowarth: How do we grow more food without using more land? The Country. April 2022 
    8. New review shows animal and plant-sourced foods are better together. Beef+Lamb NZ. December 2022
    9. "Need or Greed" World Climate Foundation  Oct 2021
    10. “Can we feed our team of 5 million first?” Food NZ. October 2021
    11. “Measuring the world’s needs” Farmers Weekly. September 2021
      a. Also published with the title “The science is there with proof of agriculture's essential role in delivering global health and nutrition, and underpinning farming's social licence for responsible production” Interest.co.nz
    12. “Plants and animals, not plants vs animals” Food NZ. August 2021
    13. "Riddet Institute model a “game-changing solution” for achieving sustainable nutrition” Massey University. July 2021
    14. “Paper concludes cutting meat won't reduce a person's carbon footprint much” Stuff. July 2021
    15. “Food for thought: Latest DELTA Model® reveals global disparity of nutrient availability and production shortfalls.” NutraIngredients-Asia. July 2021
    16. “Cutting food waste alone won't solve world's nutritional needs.” Produced in response to a presentation at Nutrition 2021, June 2021, and carried by:
      a. Newswise
      b. Earth.com
      c. BiotechAsiaNews.com
      d. Feedstuffs.com
      e. National Hog Farmer
      f. EurekAlert!
      g.       Zephyrnet.com
      h. The Health Press Daily
      i. Beef Magazine
      j. Science Buddies
      k. Press-News.org
      l. Global News & Entertainment
    17. “Kiwi Ingenuity In The Future Of Food – Expert Reaction.” Scoop. June 2021.
    18. “Microbiomes and sustainable nutrition.” Royal Society Te Apārangi Fellows Newsletter. June 2021
    19. “Riddet Institute contributes to dialogue on the future of the food system.” Food Technology Magazine. April 2021
    20. “Good nutrition starts with bioavailability science.” Stuff. April 2021
    21. “Sustainable Nutrition Initiative – Feed Our Future.” Food NZ. March 2021
    22. “Achieving sustainable nutrition on a global scale.” Royal Society Te Apārangi Fellows Newsletter. February 2021
    Other publications
    1. Contribution to the IDF Dairy Sustainability Outlook - Issue 7, September 2023. 
    2. Contribution to NZX Dairy Outlook Report 2021
    3. Hill JP, McNabb WC, Smith NW, Fletcher AJ, Van der Lee C (2021): Need or Greed - Are the current plant-based and cellular agriculture alternatives to livestock derived foods targeting a hungry world or a greedy world? World Climate Foundation. 
    Notable Citations
    1. Evaluating the process to develop the dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. Ramussen KM, Yaktine AL, Delaney KM, Callahan EA (2023). https://doi.org/10.17226/26653. 

    Presentations

    Conference Presentations
    "Josué de Castro" International Conference on Food Security and Fight Against Hunger, São Paulo, Brazil, May 2024

    Role of meat in sustainable nutrition

    Nutrition Society Conference (Australia and New Zealand), November 2023, Auckland NZ
    • Nutrient trade in Oceania
    • Development of the iOTA Model®; a dietary optimisation tool for assessing nutrient adequacy, environmental impact & acceptability of diets in NZ
    • Norway trade modelling
    Food Structures, Digestion & Health International Conference, November 2023, Queenstown, NZ

    Alternative proteins must contribute to micronutrient adequacy

    Riddet Institute Student Colloquium, November 2023, Queenstown, NZ
    International Symposium on Dietary Protein for Human Health, September 2023, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Food protein production and global nutrient supply

    Annual Dairy Industry Workshop, August 2023, Palmerston North, NZ
    • Nutrient trade in APEC economies
    • An overview of the iOTA Model®
    Red Meat Sector Conference, August 2023, Auckland, NZ

    Red meat and global nutrition

    IFT First Event, July 2023, Chicago, USA

    Thinking about the future of food

    BOMA/IFAMA E Tipu Conference, June 2023, Christchurch, NZ

    Moving from food security to nutrition security.

    Australia Good Meat Summit, March 2023, Sydney, Australia

    The Role of Meat in Global Nutrient Supply

    The Societal Role of Meat: What the Science Says, Teagasc Summit, October 2022, Dublin, Ireland

    Insights from the DELTA Model on the role that meat plays in global nutrition

    IUFoST World Congress, October 2022, Singapore

    Narratives for Nourishment: What can the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative® teach us?

    IDF, September 2022, Virtual

    Understanding dairy’s contribution to a sustainable food system

    DCANZ, August 2022, Wellington, NZ

    Sustainable Nutrition & Dairy vs Plant Drinks

    Global Dairy Platform, June 2022, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Invited to contribute to the discussion on sustainable food systems at international closed dairy forum

    ILSI Annual Meeting, 2022, Brussels

    Invited to speak on 'Improving nutrition for public benefit'

    University of the Third Age, May 2022, Wellington, NZ

    Invited to discuss the work of SNi® on Sustainable Nutrition and the global food system

    Food Structures, Digestion & Health, November 2021, Virtual
    Presentation on NZ nutrient trade dynamics
    IDF Global Dairy Conference, October 2021, Copenhagen, Denmark and Virtual

    Invited talk on the DELTA Model®

    67th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, August 2021, Virtual
    Presentation on the current contribution of meat to global nutrient availability
    New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology conference, July 2021, Palmerston North, NZ

    Invited plenary address on sustainable nutrition &

    conference presentation on the DELTA Model®

    Nutrition 2021, June 2021, Virtual
    Presentation on the DELTA Model®
    Feed Our Future, June 2021, Wellington, NZ
    Hosted by the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative®. Watch the presentations here.
    Retail Meat New Zealand conference, May 2021, Queenstown, NZ
    Invited opening talk on role of meat in sustainably feeding the global population
    Deloitte Global Future of Food Community, May 2021, Virtual
    Invited overview of SNi
    International Dairy Federation Nutrition Symposium, May 2021, Virtual
    Invited talk on sustainable nutrition
    Primary Industries NZ Summit, November 2020, Wellington, NZ
    Invited talk on sustainable nutrition
    NZX Virtual Global Dairy Seminar
    Invited presentation on the DELTA Model®
    Invited Talks
    IDF N&H Symposium, May 2024, virtual

    Invited talk on role of dairy in sustainable nutrition

    AgResearch Meat Industry Workshop, Palmerston North, March 2024

    Invited talk on role of meat in sustainable nutrition

    Knowledge Leadership talk for GAIN, March 2024, virtual

    Invited talk on DELTA Model

    International Dairy Sustainability Council webinar (UK), March 2024, virtual

    Invited talk on Dairy Sustainability

    Dairy Australia Talk, January 2024, virtual

    Invited talk on Nutrient Trade model and iOTA Model 

    Blue Economy Co-operative Research Centre, December 2023, virtual

    Invited talk on Exploring future nutrient needs 

    Fonterra Nutrition Summit, November 2023, virtual

    Invited talk on Understanding dairy’s contribution to a sustainable food system. 549 in attendance and glowing feedback

    Kapiti University of the Third Age, November 2023

    Invited talk on sustainable food systems 

    IFST Annual Parliamentary Lecture: Surviving in a Hostile World: The Need for Food Science London, October 2023

    Invited talk on sustainable food systems

    LIC Commercial team, May 2023, virtual

    Invited talk on DELTA

    Nutrition Society NZ seminar series, April 2023, virtual

    Invited talk on nLCA

    Planetary Accounting Network seminar series, March 2023, virtual

    Invited talk on DELTA

    Dairy Research Day, Denmark (virtual), March 2023

    Invited talk on DELTA

    UN World Food Programme Food and Nutrition Group, Virtual, March 2023

    Invited talk on DELTA

    Deloitte ESG Academy Talk, Australia, March 2023

    Invited talk on sustainable food systems

    Te Puna Whakaaronui Thought Leaders Group, Wellington, February 2023

    Invited talk on sustainable nutrition

    Protein-I seminar series, Ireland (virtual), February 2023

    Invited talk on SNi and DELTA

    Global Dairy Platform, December 2022, virtual

    Invited talk on nutrition and health metrics

    Rabobank New Zealand, Auckland, November 2022

    Invited overview of SNi

    DCSA Forum, August 2022, virtual
    Nutrition Society of New Zealand Scientific Conference, December 2021, Virtual
    Invited talk on achieving sustainable nutrition globally and locally
    World Biodiversity Summit, Side Event to COP26, November 2021, Virtual
    Invited talk on sustainable food systems
    Royal Society Te Apārangi Falling Walls New Zealand Lab 2021, September 2021, Virtual
    Dr Nick Smith presented the DELTA Model® as part of a national innovation pitch competition, receiving second place
    Dairy nutrition summer school lecture, July 2021, Virtual
    Invited overview of the DELTA Model®
    Global Food Systems Roundtable for AgriFood week, May 2021, Palmerston North, NZ
    SNi scientists invited to speak and sit on panel
    Wageningen University & Research, Farm Systems Ecology team, May 2021, Virtual
    Invited overview of SNi
    NZ Food Systems Summit Inter-ministerial group, March 2021, Wellington, NZ
    Invited overview of DELTA Model results
    AgResearch Ltd., February 2021, Palmerston North, NZ & Virtual
    Invited overview of SNi
    World Farmers’ Organisation Scientific Council, December 2020, Virtual
    Invited overview of the DELTA Model®
    Ministry for Primary Industries: Fit For A Better World Group, December 2020, Palmerston North, NZ
    Invited overview of SNi
    Dairy Companies Association NZ: Future Food Systems webinar, December 2020, Virtual
    Invited overview of the DELTA Model®
    Plant and Food Research, November 2020, Virtual
    Invited overview of the DELTA Model®
    Ministry for Primary Industries, November 2020, Wellington, NZ
    Invited overview of the DELTA Model®
    Ministry for Primary Industries Science Governance Group, November 2020, Wellington, NZ
    Invited overview of the DELTA Model®
    International Dairy Federation, September 2020, Virtual
    Invited overview of the DELTA Model®

    Donating to SNi®

    The Sustainable Nutrition Initiative® is a research programme helping to create a better understanding of the food system and opportunities for improvement in order to sustainably feed the global population with the nutrients required.

    This fund supports Massey University students to undertake research as part of the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative®, providing evidence for sustainable food systems for the future.

    Find out more
    Professor Warren McNabb
    Warren McNabb is a Professor of Nutritional Science at the Riddet Institute; one of New Zealand’s Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE), hosted by Massey University. He leads SNi® and his research interests include digestive physiology and metabolism, nutrition for health, and sustainable nutrition.
    Project Leader | W.McNabb@massey.ac.nz
    Professor Warren McNabb
    Warren McNabb is a Professor of Nutritional Science at the Riddet Institute; one of New Zealand’s Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE), hosted by Massey University. He leads SNi® and his research interests include digestive physiology and metabolism, nutrition for health, and sustainable nutrition.
    Project Leader | W.McNabb@massey.ac.nz
    Dr Nick Smith
    Nick works as a mathematical modeller on the Riddet Institute SNi®. He is responsible for a wide range of SNi's work and the continued development of the SNi models like the DELTA Model®. This is a tool for investigating how global food production meets global nutritional requirements as part of a sustainable food system.
    Research Officer
    Dr Nick Smith
    Nick works as a mathematical modeller on the Riddet Institute SNi®. He is responsible for a wide range of SNi's work and the continued development of the SNi models like the DELTA Model®. This is a tool for investigating how global food production meets global nutritional requirements as part of a sustainable food system.
    Research Officer
    Dr Andrew Fletcher
    Andrew is a Chemical Engineer with a PhD in process control and modelling. Andrew is a Honorary Fellow at the Riddet Institute and has been involved with SNi® since the outset. He is based at the Fonterra Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North and is involved in a range of research, management and strategy roles.
    Honorary Fellow
    Dr Andrew Fletcher
    Andrew is a Chemical Engineer with a PhD in process control and modelling. Andrew is a Honorary Fellow at the Riddet Institute and has been involved with SNi® since the outset. He is based at the Fonterra Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North and is involved in a range of research, management and strategy roles.
    Honorary Fellow
    Professor Jeremy Hill
    Professor Jeremy Hill has played a major role in developing SNi®. He has also been involved in developing strategic partnerships between Fonterra and the Riddet Institute. For example, the establishment of three Professorial Chairs in Food Material Science, Nutrition, and Consumer and Sensory Science. Jeremy is the Chief Science and Technology Officer at Fonterra.
    Adjunct Professor
    Professor Jeremy Hill
    Professor Jeremy Hill has played a major role in developing SNi®. He has also been involved in developing strategic partnerships between Fonterra and the Riddet Institute. For example, the establishment of three Professorial Chairs in Food Material Science, Nutrition, and Consumer and Sensory Science. Jeremy is the Chief Science and Technology Officer at Fonterra.
    Adjunct Professor
    Dr Mahya Tavan
    Mahya is a postdoctoral research fellow working on the development of the iOTA model. iOTA is a dietary optimisation tool for designing sustainable diets that are nutritious, acceptable and affordable. Prior to joining SNi®, Mahya held a research role at the University of Melbourne, Australia where she carried out various research projects on sustainable food production, resource use efficiency and biofortification of fresh food.
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Dr Mahya Tavan
    Mahya is a postdoctoral research fellow working on the development of the iOTA model. iOTA is a dietary optimisation tool for designing sustainable diets that are nutritious, acceptable and affordable. Prior to joining SNi®, Mahya held a research role at the University of Melbourne, Australia where she carried out various research projects on sustainable food production, resource use efficiency and biofortification of fresh food.
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Raquel Lozano
    Raquel is a postdoctoral research fellow creating models for national food systems. Her PhD research focused on helping design horticultural packaging systems to minimise the environmental impact. Raquel was awarded the International Society of Horticultural Sciences Young Minds Award in 2023, and is keen to use mathematical modelling to provide holistic information to decision-makers in the area of sustainable nutrition.
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Raquel Lozano
    Raquel is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow creating models for national food systems. Her PhD research focused on helping design horticultural packaging systems to minimise the environmental impact. Raquel was awarded the International Society of Horticultural Sciences Young Minds Award in 2023, and is keen to use mathematical modelling to provide holistic information to decision-makers in the area of sustainable nutrition.
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Patricia Soh
    Prior to her current PhD, Patricia attained a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany. The current focus of her PhD is investigating nutritional concerns within vegan diets.
    PhD Student
    Patricia Soh
    Prior to her current PhD, Patricia attained a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany. The current focus of her PhD is investigating nutritional concerns within vegan diets.
    PhD Student
    Ejovi Abafe
    Prior to his current PhD, Ejovi obtained a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Delta State University, Nigeria. The current focus of his PhD at the Riddet Institute is Global land use for the delivery of nutrition.
    PhD Student
    Ejovi Abafe
    Prior to his current PhD, Ejovi obtained a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Delta State University, Nigeria. The current focus of his PhD at the Riddet Institute is Global land use for the delivery of nutrition.
    PhD Student
    Justine Coomson
    Prior to her current PhD, Justine obtained a Masters degree in Population, Family and Reproductive Health and a Bachelor's degree in Dietetics from the University of Ghana. Justine has worked as a research assistant and a clinical dietician in Ghana before coming to New Zealand. The current focus on her PhD is the impact of biofortification and supplementation to diets.
    PhD Student
    Justine Coomson
    Prior to her current PhD, Justine obtained a Masters degree in Population, Family and Reproductive Health and a Bachelor's degree in Dietetics from the University of Ghana. Justine has worked as a research assistant and a clinical dietician in Ghana before coming to New Zealand. The current focus on her PhD is the impact of biofortification and supplementation to diets.
    PhD Student
    Hannah Ramsay
    Hannah is the Project Manager for SNi®. She started her career in the Riddet Institute when she first came to New Zealand and has since done project and event work across various educational institutes. The opportunity to return to Project Management at the Riddet Institute was very welcome, especially given the fascinating research and mahi conducted as part of SNi®.
    Project Manager | H.Ramsay@massey.ac.nz
    Hannah Ramsay
    Hannah is the Project Manager for SNi®. She started her career in the Riddet Institute when she first came to New Zealand and has since done project and event work across various educational institutes. The opportunity to return to Project Management at the Riddet Institute was very welcome, especially given the fascinating research and mahi conducted as part of SNi®.
    Project Manager | H.Ramsay@massey.ac.nz
    Dr Amelia Barker
    Amelia is a Communications Officer at the Riddet Institute. She has many years experience in digital media communications at various organisations. Amelia is passionate about research and enjoys promoting the fantastic mahi (work) that SNi® does.
    Communications Officer
    Amelia Barker
    Amelia is a Communications Officer at the Riddet Institute. She has many years experience in digital media communications at various organisations. Amelia is passionate about research and enjoys promoting the fantastic mahi (work) that SNi® does.
    Communications Officer
    Rangimarie Hunia
    Rangimarie Hunia was appointed an alternate director of Te Ohu Kaimoana at the beginning of 2015 before being appointed a full director in November 2015, and Chair in July 2019. The first wahine (woman) Chair in the history of Te Ohu Kaimoana. In 2017, she was appointed a Chair of Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust. In 2016, she was appointed Chief Executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Whai Maia. Whai Maia is responsible for the well-being of its 5,000 tribal members and focuses on education, health, employment and environmental areas. She played an active role as a member of the Iwi Working Group that was established to facilitate understanding and iwi decision making in response to the 11-year Review of Māori Fisheries Settlement entities. Rangimarie is also a member of Global Women and was a finalist in the Westpac Women of Influence Awards 2014.
    Ngāti Whātua Chair of the SNi® International Advisory Group Chief Executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Whai Maia
    Rangimarie Hunia
    Rangimarie Hunia was appointed an alternate director of Te Ohu Kaimoana at the beginning of 2015 before being appointed a full director in November 2015, and Chair in July 2019. The first wahine (woman) Chair in the history of Te Ohu Kaimoana. In 2017, she was appointed a Chair of Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust. In 2016, she was appointed Chief Executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Whai Maia. Whai Maia is responsible for the well-being of its 5,000 tribal members and focuses on education, health, employment and environmental areas. She played an active role as a member of the Iwi Working Group that was established to facilitate understanding and iwi decision making in response to the 11-year Review of Māori Fisheries Settlement entities. Rangimarie is also a member of Global Women and was a finalist in the Westpac Women of Influence Awards 2014.
    Ngāti Whātua Chair of SNi® International Advisory Group Chief Executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Whai Maia
    Jeroen Dijkman
    Dr. Jeroen Dijkman is the founding head of the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences at Nestlé Research. The Institute aims to translate novel agricultural science into concrete applications and to identify and develop the most promising regenerative agriculture technologies. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the organization has a decentralized structure and incorporates Nestlé’s existing plant sciences research facilities in France, as well as numerous research and reference farms around the world. The Institute has three focus areas: plant sciences, dairy-livestock sciences and agricultural system sciences. Jeroen has worked for over 30 years, in all major regions of the world, with bi- and multi-lateral donors, i-NGOs, international and national research centres, the World Bank, UN agencies and the private sector on finding ways to use research and innovation to transition agri-food systems towards more productive but also more sustainable and socially inclusive pathways. In his last two assignments prior to taking up his current position, Jeroen combined the roles of Director (International) of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre and the Senior Technical Adviser of the UN Environment, Climate and Clean Air Coalition agriculture initiative. Subsequently, he was the Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research. The Animal Sciences Group consists of the Department of Animal Sciences of Wageningen University and three Wageningen Research institutes: Wageningen Bio-veterinary Research, Wageningen Livestock Research and Wageningen Marine Research.
    Head of Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences
    Jeroen Dijkman
    Dr. Jeroen Dijkman is the founding head of the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences at Nestlé Research. The Institute aims to translate novel agricultural science into concrete applications and to identify and develop the most promising regenerative agriculture technologies. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the organization has a decentralized structure and incorporates Nestlé’s existing plant sciences research facilities in France, as well as numerous research and reference farms around the world. The Institute has three focus areas: plant sciences, dairy-livestock sciences and agricultural system sciences. Jeroen has worked for over 30 years, in all major regions of the world, with bi- and multi-lateral donors, i-NGOs, international and national research centres, the World Bank, UN agencies and the private sector on finding ways to use research and innovation to transition agri-food systems towards more productive but also more sustainable and socially inclusive pathways. In his last two assignments prior to taking up his current position, Jeroen combined the roles of Director (International) of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre and the Senior Technical Adviser of the UN Environment, Climate and Clean Air Coalition agriculture initiative. Subsequently, he was the Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research. The Animal Sciences Group consists of the Department of Animal Sciences of Wageningen University and three Wageningen Research institutes: Wageningen Bio-veterinary Research, Wageningen Livestock Research and Wageningen Marine Research.
    Head of Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences
    Berry Marttin
    Berry Marttin was born and raised in Brazil. Over the course of his career at Rabobank, he gained extensive experience as an international banker in both wholesale and retail banking, working in various senior executive positions in Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Curacao and Brazil. Mr Marttin moved to the Netherlands in 2004 to become Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rabobank Amsterdam. In 2009, he joined the Managing Board with special focus on Rabobank’s international Wholesale and Rural banking activities and further responsibilities including Leasing (DLL), Rabo Carbon Bank and RaboResearch. His principal other activities outside Rabobank include serving as President of the EACB (European Association of Co-operative Banks) and Member of the Board of Neumann Foundation. Moreover, Mr Marttin serves as the first Chairman of the Global Steering Committee of the Food Action Alliance, where World Economic Forum together with IFAD, WBCSD, CIAT, AfDB and Rabobank and over 20 global leaders unite to deploy large scale action through game changing initiatives for food systems transformation. In 2021, he was invited to join the UN Food Systems Summit Champions network, a network encompassing leadership from a broad range of constituencies, in all parts of the world, who are championing food systems and food systems transformation.
    Former Member of the Managing Board Rabobank Group
    Berry Marttin
    Berry Marttin was born and raised in Brazil. Over the course of his career at Rabobank, he has gained extensive experience as an international banker in both wholesale and retail banking, working in various senior executive positions in Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Curacao and Brazil. Mr Marttin moved to the Netherlands in 2004 to become Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rabobank Amsterdam. In 2009, he joined the Managing Board with special focus on Rabobank’s international Wholesale and Rural banking activities and further responsibilities including Leasing (DLL), Rabo Carbon Bank and RaboResearch. His principal other activities outside Rabobank include serving as President of the EACB (European Association of Co-operative Banks) and Member of the Board of Neumann Foundation. Moreover, Mr Marttin serves as the first Chairman of the Global Steering Committee of the Food Action Alliance, where World Economic Forum together with IFAD, WBCSD, CIAT, AfDB and Rabobank and over 20 global leaders unite to deploy large scale action through game changing initiatives for food systems transformation. In 2021, he was invited to join the UN Food Systems Summit Champions network, a network encompassing leadership from a broad range of constituencies, in all parts of the world, who are championing food systems and food systems transformation.
    Member of the Managing Board Rabobank Group
    Dr Jason Clay
    Jason Clay is the Senior Vice President for Markets and Executive Director of the Markets Institute at WWF, which was created to identify and address emerging global issues, trends, and tools impacting conservation in more timely, cost-effective, and scalable ways. His career has ranged from working on a family farm and for the US Department of Agriculture. He taught at Harvard and Yale and spent more than 35 years with human rights and environmental NGOs. In 1988, Clay founded Rainforest Marketing, set up a trading company within an NGO, helped Indigenous people and local communities access global markets, and launched Ben & Jerry’s Rainforest Crunch, plus more than 200 other products with sales of $100 million. From 1999 to 2003, he co-directed a WWF, the World Bank, UN FAO, and NACA consortium to identify the most significant environmental and social impacts of shrimp aquaculture, as well as practices to reduce them. From 2004 to 2012, he convened multistakeholder roundtables to create performance-based standards for commodities including salmon, soy, sugarcane, cotton, and beef. He developed WWF’s Market Transformation program in 2006 to work on agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, and corporate engagement. Clay continues to lead WWF-US efforts to improve private sector supply chain management and help their producers address the most significant impacts. In 2008, he created the Carbon and Commodities program to address supply chain GHG emissions. He has helped whole sectors improve their sustainability performance (e.g., the Global Salmon Initiative). He is now working with the global leather industry to support a DCF leather fund and is testing support for a 1% environmental performance payments to support the transition costs and incentives to finance what producers need to do to become legal and deforestation and conversion free. He is launching a two-year proof of concept for Codex Planetarius, a set of minimum global standards to reduce the key impacts of food and commodities traded internationally. Clay has authored 18 books and 500 articles, and has given more than 1,500 invited presentations. He studied anthropology and agriculture at Harvard, the London School of Economics, and Cornell (PhD).
    Senior Vice President, Markets at World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
    Dr Jason Clay
    Jason Clay is the Senior Vice President for Markets and Executive Director of the Markets Institute at WWF, which was created to identify and address emerging global issues, trends, and tools impacting conservation in more timely, cost-effective, and scalable ways. His career has ranged from working on a family farm and for the US Department of Agriculture. He taught at Harvard and Yale and spent more than 35 years with human rights and environmental NGOs. In 1988, Clay founded Rainforest Marketing, set up a trading company within an NGO, helped Indigenous people and local communities access global markets, and launched Ben & Jerry’s Rainforest Crunch, plus more than 200 other products with sales of $100 million. From 1999 to 2003, he co-directed a WWF, the World Bank, UN FAO, and NACA consortium to identify the most significant environmental and social impacts of shrimp aquaculture, as well as practices to reduce them. From 2004 to 2012, he convened multistakeholder roundtables to create performance-based standards for commodities including salmon, soy, sugarcane, cotton, and beef. He developed WWF’s Market Transformation program in 2006 to work on agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, and corporate engagement. Clay continues to lead WWF-US efforts to improve private sector supply chain management and help their producers address the most significant impacts. In 2008, he created the Carbon and Commodities program to address supply chain GHG emissions. He has helped whole sectors improve their sustainability performance (e.g., the Global Salmon Initiative). He is now working with the global leather industry to support a DCF leather fund and is testing support for a 1% environmental performance payments to support the transition costs and incentives to finance what producers need to do to become legal and deforestation and conversion free. He is launching a two-year proof of concept for Codex Planetarius, a set of minimum global standards to reduce the key impacts of food and commodities traded internationally. Clay has authored 18 books and 500 articles, and has given more than 1,500 invited presentations. He studied anthropology and agriculture at Harvard, the London School of Economics, and Cornell (PhD).
    Senior Vice President, Markets at World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
    Professor Manny Noakes
    Professor Manny Noakes has a PhD in nutrition as well as having trained as a dietitian in her earlier years. She is more recently a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Prof Noakes is a former Director and Senior Principal Research Scientist, Nutrition and Health at CSIRO, Australia. She currently runs her own nutrition consultancy and is also a non-executive Director for Meat and Livestock Australia. She is considered a key opinion leader and advisor in nutrition and health, has extensive media and public speaking experience. She has over 25 years’ experience in many fields of nutrition and health, and has undertaken numerous clinical dietary intervention trials in weight management, functional foods and cardiovascular health. She has also undertaken research on diet and sustainability and redefined the environmental agenda from a food and health perspective. Prof Noakes has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications which have been cited more than 9000 times and has an H index of 52. She was instrumental in the development and release of five editions of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, which was launched in 2004 and has been translated into 17 languages and sold over one million copies in Australia. The Total Wellbeing Diet has been further commercialised to a successful online programme. Prof Noakes is the recipient of three CSIRO Medals, is a Distinguished Alumni of Flinders University, holds a research excellence award from the University of Adelaide and is a recipient of the Zonta Club Woman of International Achievement award.
    Nutrition Consultant
    Professor Manny Noakes
    Professor Manny Noakes has a PhD in nutrition as well as having trained as a dietitian in her earlier years. She is more recently a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Prof Noakes is a former Director and Senior Principal Research Scientist, Nutrition and Health at CSIRO, Australia. She currently runs her own nutrition consultancy and is also a non-executive Director for Meat and Livestock Australia. She is considered a key opinion leader and advisor in nutrition and health, has extensive media and public speaking experience. She has over 25 years’ experience in many fields of nutrition and health, and has undertaken numerous clinical dietary intervention trials in weight management, functional foods and cardiovascular health. She has also undertaken research on diet and sustainability and redefined the environmental agenda from a food and health perspective. Prof Noakes has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications which have been cited more than 9000 times and has an H index of 52. She was instrumental in the development and release of five editions of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, which was launched in 2004 and has been translated into 17 languages and sold over one million copies in Australia. The Total Wellbeing Diet has been further commercialised to a successful online programme. Prof Noakes is the recipient of three CSIRO Medals, is a Distinguished Alumni of Flinders University, holds a research excellence award from the University of Adelaide and is a recipient of the Zonta Club Woman of International Achievement award.
    Nutrition Consultant
    Lain Jager
    Lain Jager is best known for his time with the hugely successful kiwifruit marketer Zespri where he was CEO from 2008 to 2017. During his tenure as CEO, Zespri grew strongly through the impact and recovery from the bacterial vine disease Psa, grower returns doubled, and the share price grew from $1.00 to $8.00. Today, Lain is involved in a range of investment projects in Tourism and Agribusiness, serves as a Director on several Boards, was the Chairman of the Primary Sector Council that produced the Fit for a Better World Report focused on the New Zealand Food and Fibre Sector, and is the Co-Chair of Te Puna Whakaaronui – a Food and Fibre think tank. Lain and his wife Debra live on a lifestyle block in Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Chair of the Thought Leaders Group for Te Puna Whakaaronui Food and Fibre Think Tank
    Lain Jager
    Lain Jager is best known for his time with the hugely successful kiwifruit marketer Zespri where he was CEO from 2008 to 2017. During his tenure as CEO, Zespri grew strongly through the impact and recovery from the bacterial vine disease Psa, grower returns doubled, and the share price grew from $1.00 to $8.00. Today, Lain is involved in a range of investment projects in Tourism and Agribusiness, serves as a Director on several Boards, was the Chairman of the Primary Sector Council that produced the Fit for a Better World Report focused on the New Zealand Food and Fibre Sector, and is the Co-Chair of Te Puna Whakaaronui – a Food and Fibre think tank. Lain and his wife Debra live on a lifestyle block in Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Chair of the Thought Leaders Group for Te Puna Whakaaronui Food and Fibre Think Tank
    Samuel Thevasagayam
    Samuel Thevasagayam is the Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he oversees the implementation of foundation’s strategy in animal health, animal production, animal nutrition, animal systems and livestock off-take markets in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Samuel started his career as a small animal clinician and lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He then moved to work in academic research, Pharmaceutical R&D (veterinary and human), Business Development and the not-for profit sector, living/working in four continents before joining the Gates Foundation in 2012. Samuel graduated from the faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Gained his PhD in veterinary virology from the University of Hertfordshire for his research on foot-and-mouth disease virus at the Pirbright Institute and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
    Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Samuel Thevasagayam
    Samuel Thevasagayam is the Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he oversees the implementation of foundation’s strategy in animal health, animal production, animal nutrition, animal systems and livestock off-take markets in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Samuel started his career as a small animal clinician and lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He then moved to work in academic research, Pharmaceutical R&D (veterinary and human), Business Development and the not-for profit sector, living/working in four continents before joining the Gates Foundation in 2012. Samuel graduated from the faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Gained his PhD in veterinary virology from the University of Hertfordshire for his research on foot-and-mouth disease virus at the Pirbright Institute and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
    Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Natalie Ahlborn
    Natalie's role is to inform the SNi from a nutritional perspective. She also supports the team by representing SNi's work through speaking engagements and other outputs.
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Patricia Soh
    Prior to her current PhD, Patricia attained a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany. The current focus of her PhD is investigating nutritional concerns within vegan diets.
    PhD Student
    Copy link
    CopyCopied
    Powered by Social Snap