Significant seafood food safety contribution recognised

Seafood food safety research leader Dr Tim Harwood has received the 2026 Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Food Industry Awards, held on Wednesday 1 July. The award recognise individuals, teams, and organisations who contribute to food safety culture, research, and practice across the food system.

Tim is a toxin chemist with research interests in natural toxin accumulation in food gathered from land and sea. He co-leads the MBIE-funded Seafood Safety research platform.

New Zealand Food Safety acting deputy director-general Mike Inglis says Dr Harwood’s work has made an important contribution to seafood safety in New Zealand and internationally.

“We are delighted to recognise Dr Harwood for his significant contribution to the seafood safety sector,” says Mr Inglis.

Dr Harwood led the Seafood Safety Programme, supporting New Zealand’s $2 billion seafood industry through the application of science-based, internationally aligned testing approaches that help maintain product safety and market access. He has also worked closely with Māori communities to support safer customary seafood harvesting.

“Through working together with organisations including the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, New Zealand Food Safety, the Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, and AgResearch, his work has strengthened seafood safety systems across New Zealand and beyond.”

In addition to his role as Manager of the Food and Bioactives Group at the Cawthron Institute, he also serves as Deputy Director of the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre.

“His work has helped extend seafood safety knowledge and tools to at-risk communities, including through field testing kits and training in the Bay of Plenty, helping ensure safer harvest during important community events.

“We congratulate Dr Harwood and all 2026 nominees. Their work supports New Zealand’s strong food safety system,” says Mr Inglis.

About the Seafood Safety research platform

Based at Cawthron Institute in Nelson, the project aims to deliver world-leading seafood safety science in New Zealand.

Seafood faces some unique food safety challenges, like naturally-occurring toxins produced by microalgae that can contaminate shellfish. The research platform looks at ways to improve methods of detecting and mitigating threats before they become a problem.