Hosted 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®


    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
    Beef & Lamb NZ
    Fonterra
    Food Nation
    Lincoln University
    Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
    Massey University
    Ministry for Business, Innovation & Employment
    Ministry of Primary Industries
    Pūhoro STEMM Academy
    University of Auckland
    University of Canterbury
    University of Otago 
    Wakatū Incorporation
    Zespri

    Internationally

    Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
    Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
    Global Dairy Platform
    GOAL Sciences
    ILSI & San Diego State University (USA)
    Monash University (Australia)
    Nestlé
    Swinburne University (Australia)
    The Gates Foundation
    University of Lincoln (UK)
    University of Tasmania (Australia)
    University of São Paulo (Brazil)
    University of Sydney (Australia)
    University of Tasmania (Australia)
    University of Padova (Italy)
    Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands)
    World Health Organization (WHO)
    World Wildlife Fund
    Peer-reviewed Scientific Papers
    Media Articles
    Other publications
    Notable Citations

    Presentations

    Conference Presentations
    Agriculture, Nutrition, and Health Academy (Online), January 2025
    Nutrition Society Conference (joint New Zealand and Australian Societies conference) Christchurch, November 2024
    International Dairy Federation: World Dairy Summit. Paris, October 2024.
    NZ Institute of Food Science Technology Annual conference, Hamilton, July 2024
    Global Dairy Innovation Congress Asia (2024) on 21st October
    The Food Structure and Functionality forum, Belgium, October 2024
    NZX Virtual Global Dairy Seminar
    "Josué de Castro" International Conference on Food Security and Fight Against Hunger, São Paulo, Brazil, May 2024
    Nutrition Society Conference (Australia and New Zealand), November 2023, Auckland NZ
    Food Structures, Digestion & Health International Conference, November 2023, Queenstown, NZ
    Riddet Institute Student Colloquium, November 2023, Queenstown, NZ
    International Symposium on Dietary Protein for Human Health, September 2023, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Annual Dairy Industry Workshop, August 2023, Palmerston North, NZ
    Red Meat Sector Conference, August 2023, Auckland, NZ
    IFT First Event, July 2023, Chicago, USA
    BOMA/IFAMA E Tipu Conference, June 2023, Christchurch, NZ
    Australia Good Meat Summit, March 2023, Sydney, Australia
    Nutrition Society Congress, Belfast, July 2024
    The Societal Role of Meat: What the Science Says, Teagasc Summit, October 2022, Dublin, Ireland
    IUFoST World Congress, October 2022, Singapore
    IDF, September 2022, Virtual
    DCANZ, August 2022, Wellington, NZ
    Global Dairy Platform, June 2022, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    ILSI Annual Meeting, 2022, Brussels
    University of the Third Age, May 2022, Wellington, NZ
    Food Structures, Digestion & Health, November 2021, Virtual
    IDF Global Dairy Conference, October 2021, Copenhagen, Denmark and Virtual
    67th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, August 2021, Virtual
    New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology conference, July 2021, Palmerston North, NZ
    Nutrition 2021, June 2021, Virtual
    Feed Our Future, June 2021, Wellington, NZ
    Retail Meat New Zealand conference, May 2021, Queenstown, NZ
    Deloitte Global Future of Food Community, May 2021, Virtual
    International Dairy Federation Nutrition Symposium, May 2021, Virtual
    Primary Industries NZ Summit, November 2020, Wellington, NZ
    Invited Talks
    FAO Regional Forum on Innovations to Support Sustainable Livestock Transformation in the Asia and Pacific Region, Khon Kaen, Thailand, November 2024
    Cawthorn Inspire Festival, Nelson, September 2024
    11th International Whey Conference, Dublin, September 2024
    International Conference of Agricultural Economists New Delhi, India, August 2024
    University of Copenhagen Summer School, August 2024 (Virtual)
    Dairy Research Consortium meeting Utrecht, June 2024
    South African Society of Dairy Technology (Online), May/June 2024 (pre-recorded)
    iFood Global Milk Experts Round Table (Online), June 2024
    IDF N&H Symposium, May 2024, virtual
    AgResearch Meat Industry Workshop, Palmerston North, March 2024
    Knowledge Leadership talk for GAIN, March 2024, virtual
    International Dairy Sustainability Council webinar (UK), March 2024, virtual
    Dairy Australia Talk, January 2024, virtual
    Blue Economy Co-operative Research Centre, December 2023, virtual
    Fonterra Nutrition Summit, November 2023, virtual
    Kapiti University of the Third Age, November 2023
    IFST Annual Parliamentary Lecture: Surviving in a Hostile World: The Need for Food Science London, October 2023
    LIC Commercial team, May 2023, virtual
    Nutrition Society NZ seminar series, April 2023, virtual
    Planetary Accounting Network seminar series, March 2023, virtual
    Dairy Research Day, Denmark (virtual), March 2023
    UN World Food Programme Food and Nutrition Group, Virtual, March 2023
    Deloitte ESG Academy Talk, Australia, March 2023
    Te Puna Whakaaronui Thought Leaders Group, Wellington, February 2023
    Protein-I seminar series, Ireland (virtual), February 2023
    Global Dairy Platform, December 2022, virtual
    Rabobank New Zealand, Auckland, November 2022
    DCSA Forum, August 2022, virtual
    Nutrition Society of New Zealand Scientific Conference, December 2021, Virtual
    World Biodiversity Summit, Side Event to COP26, November 2021, Virtual
    Royal Society Te Apārangi Falling Walls New Zealand Lab 2021, September 2021, Virtual
    Dairy nutrition summer school lecture, July 2021, Virtual
    Global Food Systems Roundtable for AgriFood week, May 2021, Palmerston North, NZ
    Wageningen University & Research, Farm Systems Ecology team, May 2021, Virtual
    NZ Food Systems Summit Inter-ministerial group, March 2021, Wellington, NZ
    AgResearch Ltd., February 2021, Palmerston North, NZ & Virtual
    World Farmers’ Organisation Scientific Council, December 2020, Virtual
    Ministry for Primary Industries: Fit For A Better World Group, December 2020, Palmerston North, NZ
    Dairy Companies Association NZ: Future Food Systems webinar, December 2020, Virtual
    Plant and Food Research, November 2020, Virtual
    Ministry for Primary Industries, November 2020, Wellington, NZ
    Ministry for Primary Industries Science Governance Group, November 2020, Wellington, NZ
    International Dairy Federation, September 2020, Virtual

    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
    Professor Andrew Fletcher
    Andrew is a Chemical Engineer with a PhD in process control and modelling. Andrew is an Adjunct Professor 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.
    Adjunct Professor
    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
    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
    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, 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
    Dr Dorisel Torres-Rojas (Dori)
    Dori is a soil biogeochemist and chemical engineer currently developing and adapting the SNi national food systems model, with a focus on Kenya. During her PhD, she was a Fellow in the Food Systems and Poverty Alleviation (NSF) program, researching sustainable solutions for energy and food security in smallholder farming systems in western Kenya. With a strong foundation in soil science, Dori has worked at the intersection of soil fertility, energy, and food security. More recently, she held a research role at the University of Waikato, focusing on pastoral systems, nutrient management, and environmental chemistry.
    Senior Research Officer
    Dorisel Torres-Rojas (Dori
    Dori is a soil biogeochemist and chemical engineer currently developing and adapting the SNi national food systems model, with a focus on Kenya. During her PhD, she was a Fellow in the Food Systems and Poverty Alleviation (NSF) program, researching sustainable solutions for energy and food security in smallholder farming systems in western Kenya. With a strong foundation in soil science, Dori has worked at the intersection of soil fertility, energy, and food security. More recently, she held a research role at the University of Waikato, focusing on pastoral systems, nutrient management, and environmental chemistry.
    Senior Research Officer
    Matthieu Vignes
    Matthieu is a computational statistician/modeller. He supports staff and students with complex quantitative questions on their data sets. His works revolves around deciphering complex biological system from the perspective of their relationships. His expertise includes causality, heterogeneous and high-dimensional data, missingness and probabilistic graphical models.
    Senior Lecturer
    Matthieu Vignes
    Matthieu is a computational statistician/modeller. He supports staff and students with complex quantitative questions on their data sets. His works revolves around deciphering complex biological system from the perspective of their relationships. His expertise includes causality, heterogeneous and high-dimensional data, missingness and probabilistic graphical models.
    Senior Lecturer
    Rob Taylor
    Rob is a data scientist with a background in computational modelling and psychology. He specialises in R programming, statistical modelling, and building production-ready applications using tools like RShiny. He is currently working with the SNi to develop a food systems model for Aotearoa New Zealand and create an interactive tool to help decision makers explore how future scenarios could impact national and regional food systems.
    Research Officer
    Matthieu Vignes
    Matthieu is a computational statistician/modeller. He supports staff and students with complex quantitative questions on their data sets. His works revolves around deciphering complex biological system from the perspective of their relationships. His expertise includes causality, heterogeneous and high-dimensional data, missingness and probabilistic graphical models.
    Senior Lecturer
    Abby Johnson
    Abby is an Associate Professor with SNi®. She is a nutrition scientist and registered dietitian with cross-training in bioinformatics. Abby’s research interests include new ways to model dietary patterns, the human gut microbiome, and the nutritional content of plant-based products.
    Associate Professor
    Matthieu Vignes
    Matthieu is a computational statistician/modeller. He supports staff and students with complex quantitative questions on their data sets. His works revolves around deciphering complex biological system from the perspective of their relationships. His expertise includes causality, heterogeneous and high-dimensional data, missingness and probabilistic graphical models.
    Senior Lecturer
    Yin Chin
    Yin has a background in animal and biological science, and quantitative modelling for evidence based decision-making. Her work has included animal dietary, farm systems, and nutrient cycling modelling, while improving governance tools to ensure they are fit for purpose. She currently contributes to the development of food systems models and data architechture with SNi®.
    Research Officer
    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
    Annet Mukagatsinzi
    Annet Mukagatsinzi holds a Master’s degree in Nutritional and Public Health Epidemiology from Wageningen University & Research. She previously worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda before moving to New Zealand. Her current PhD focuses on the role of plant-based alternatives in sustainable 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
    Distinguished Professor Lora Iannotti
    Dr Lora Iannotti is the founding director of the E3 Nutrition Lab. Her lab aims to identify nutrition solutions that embrace principles embodied in the three E’s: equity, environment, and evolution. Dr Iannotti leads projects in Ecuador, Haiti, Madagascar, and St. Louis, Missouri where she collaborates with local partners to test innovative approaches to achieving sustainable, healthy dietary patterns that improve young child growth and brain development. Her research related to animal source foods has informed the global discourse on nutrition equity, climate change, biodiversity, and planetary boundaries. Dr Iannotti is co-director of the Food and Agriculture Research Mission (FARM) Innovation Research Network and scholar at the Center for the Environment at WashU. Dr Iannotti serves on global working groups to inform policy on maternal and child nutrition. She was a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines Development Group for Complementary Feeding. For the UN Food and Agriculture, she serves as a consultant on initiatives related to animal source foods and human health. Dr. Iannotti served as the USAID Feed the Future Fish Innovation Lab’s nutrition advisor, supporting activities with technical contributions on nutrition objectives and methods. She chairs the International Advisory Group for the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative in New Zealand. Dr Iannotti received her doctorate from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a Master of Arts Degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. Areas of Focus: · Maternal and child nutrition · Sustainable, healthy agrifood systems · Animal source food interventions
    Lauren and Lee Fixel Distinguished Professor in the School of Public Health, WashU
    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
    Harieta Ang
    With more than 20 years’ experience working in Aotearoa and across the Pacific, including leadership roles in Fiji’s tourism and motor vehicle sectors and a range of roles at Massey University since 2016, Harieta brings strong capability in governance, programme coordination, and culturally grounded engagement. Harieta holds a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Social Policy and is completing a Master of International Development focused on community-led, values-based Pacific development.
    Programme Manager
    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