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® 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?
(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® 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.
The Nutrient Trade Model tracks how foods and the nutrients within them flow between countries.
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
Achieving high protein quality is a challenge in vegan diets. Nutrition Review.
Soh BXP, Smith NW, von Hurst P, McNabb WC (2024).
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).
Achieving high protein quality is a challenge in vegan diets. Narrative Review. Soh BXP, Smith NW, von Hurst P, McNabb WC (2024)
Global nutrient content embedded in food losses and waste: Identifying the sources and magnitude along the food supply chain. Sustainable Production and Consumption. Beuving Manouk, McNabb C. Warren, Smith W. Nick (2024).
Modelling the feasibility of fermentation-produced protein at a globally relevant scale.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. Fletcher AJ, Smith NW, Hill JP, McNabb WC (2024).
Analysis of global nutrient gaps and their potential to be closed through redistribution and increased supply. Frontiers in Nutrition. Fletcher AJ, Lozano R, McNabb WC (2024).
Complex network analysis and health implications of nutrient trade. Global Food Security. Silvestrini MM, Smith NW, Fletcher AJ, McNabb WC, Sarti FM (2024)
Alternative protein-based foods must contribute to micronutrient adequacy. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Smith, NW, Fletcher AJ, McNabb WC (2024).
Media Articles
- Announcement of the MBIE funding for the National Model picked up by multiple New Zealand media outlets, September 2023.
a. Rural Exchange - “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) - “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. - 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.
- Massey scientists are cream of the crop at international dairy award. Stuff July 2022
- Dr Nick Smith receives 3rd place in IDF Professor Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize. IDF. July 2022
- Segment on Rural Delivery, TVNZ. April 2022
- Dr Jacqueline Rowarth: How do we grow more food without using more land? The Country. April 2022
- New review shows animal and plant-sourced foods are better together. Beef+Lamb NZ. December 2022
- "Need or Greed" World Climate Foundation Oct 2021
- “Can we feed our team of 5 million first?” Food NZ. October 2021
- “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 - “Plants and animals, not plants vs animals” Food NZ. August 2021
- "Riddet Institute model a “game-changing solution” for achieving sustainable nutrition” Massey University. July 2021
- “Paper concludes cutting meat won't reduce a person's carbon footprint much” Stuff. July 2021
- “Food for thought: Latest DELTA Model® reveals global disparity of nutrient availability and production shortfalls.” NutraIngredients-Asia. July 2021
- “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 - “Kiwi Ingenuity In The Future Of Food – Expert Reaction.” Scoop. June 2021.
- “Microbiomes and sustainable nutrition.” Royal Society Te Apārangi Fellows Newsletter. June 2021
- “Riddet Institute contributes to dialogue on the future of the food system.” Food Technology Magazine. April 2021
- “Good nutrition starts with bioavailability science.” Stuff. April 2021
- “Sustainable Nutrition Initiative – Feed Our Future.” Food NZ. March 2021
- “Achieving sustainable nutrition on a global scale.” Royal Society Te Apārangi Fellows Newsletter. February 2021
Other publications
- Contribution to the IDF Dairy Sustainability Outlook - Issue 7, September 2023.
- Contribution to NZX Dairy Outlook Report 2021
- 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
- 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
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Health Academy (Online), January 2025
Online presentation by Dr Mahya Tavan on the iOTA model
Nutrition Society Conference (joint New Zealand and Australian Societies conference) Christchurch, November 2024
Assessment of protein intake and protein quality among New Zealand vegans
Strategies for Closing Global Nutrient Gaps: Enhancing Distribution and Supply
Development of a National Food System Mathematical Model for Exploring Future Scenarios and Impacts
Improving Nutritional Outcomes through Crop Selection and Land Suitability: Global Iron and Zinc Deficiencies
Contribution of large-scale food fortification to micronutrient requirements of women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa
International Dairy Federation: World Dairy Summit. Paris, October 2024.
Manipulating Milk - does identical composition equal identical nutrition (Dr Natalie Ahlborn)
NZ Institute of Food Science Technology Annual conference, Hamilton, July 2024
Invited talk: Where do plant-based milk alternatives fit in a nutritionally adequate diet? (Dr Mahya Tavarn)
Global Dairy Innovation Congress Asia (2024) on 21st October
Revolutionary Technologies Redefining the Dairy Industry
The Food Structure and Functionality forum, Belgium, October 2024
Processing of bovine milk increases small intestinal amino acid absorption kinetics in growing pigs as a human model (Dr Natalie Ahlborn)
NZX Virtual Global Dairy Seminar
Invited presentation on the DELTA Model®
"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
Australia Good Meat Summit, March 2023, Sydney, Australia
The Role of Meat in Global Nutrient Supply
Nutrition Society Congress, Belfast, July 2024
Student presentation: Unsupervised machine learning to determine dietary protein distribution among New Zealand vegans across time periods of the day (PhD student Pat Soh)
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
Invited Talks
FAO Regional Forum on Innovations to Support Sustainable Livestock Transformation in the Asia and Pacific Region, Khon Kaen, Thailand, November 2024
Modelling global food systems: The place of dairy in sustainable nutrition
Cawthorn Inspire Festival, Nelson, September 2024
Invited to lead a workshop with students aged 8-12 years
11th International Whey Conference, Dublin, September 2024
Environmental impact of precision fermentation
International Conference of Agricultural Economists New Delhi, India, August 2024
Invited talk on iOTA Model, funded by GAIN. (Optimising Diets for Nutrition, Sustainability, Affordability, and Acceptability with The iOTA Model
University of Copenhagen Summer School, August 2024 (Virtual)
DELTA model at the Summer School’s Sustainable Diets day
Dairy Research Consortium meeting Utrecht, June 2024
Invited talk on iOTA Model
South African Society of Dairy Technology (Online), May/June 2024 (pre-recorded)
Invited talk on role of dairy in sustainable nutrition
iFood Global Milk Experts Round Table (Online), June 2024
Role of dairy in sustainable nutrition. Approx 20 attendees – invite only to dairy industry & dieticians
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.
