HARJINDER SINGH PRESENTED WITH WILLIAM C. HAINES DAIRY SCIENCE AWARD BY CALIFORNIA DAIRY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Massey University Professor Honored for Contributions to Dairy Industry
 
Davis, Calif. ­ April 3, 2008 ­ The California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF) presented Professor Harjinder Singh, co-director of the Riddet Institute at New Zealand¹s Massey University, with the William C. Haines Dairy Science Award on March 18th in recognition of his contribution to the field of dairy science at the 10th Cal Poly Dairy Ingredients Symposium in San Francisco where he gave a presentation on the use of milk proteins as potential nano-encapsulation and nutrient delivery systems.  ³Dr. Singh is an excellent candidate for this award,² said Joseph O¹Donnell, executive director of the CDRF. ³He is an authority on milk proteins and their relationship to dairy technology and processing. His research has contributed to the fundamental understanding and functionality of milk proteins and hydrocolloids in food systems, knowledge that has formed the solid basis of the development of new dairy products with improved nutrition, functionality and shelf-life.²

³It is a great honor for me to receive this award recognizing excellence in dairy research and development,² said Singh. ³Many graduate students, postdoctoral scientists and collaborators at Massey University deserve to share the recognition this award presents. The continued support of the New Zealand dairy industry for multidisciplinary, fundamental work on milk protein structure and functionality at Massey University is greatly appreciated. The ability of the dairy industry worldwide to innovate by developing new products with leading edge functionality depends on how well the fundamental knowledge about dairy ingredients can be translated into product development ideas and concepts. Close interactions between industry and academic researchers are essential to make academic research more relevant and to facilitate uptake of knowledge by the dairy industry²

Professor Singh holds an endowed Chair in Dairy Science at Massey University, New Zealand and is director of the Riddet Institute, which was recently established as a National Centre of Research Excellence in Food Innovation, one of seven such centres sponsored by the New Zealand government and part of a partnership between Massey University, University of Auckland and University of Otago and the Crop and Food Research and AgResearch organizations. He has published 200 peer-reviewed papers, 15 book chapters and holds 4 patents. His research program is directed at generating fundamental knowledge on structures, interactions and functions of dairy components such as milk proteins and the effects of different environments and novel processing technologies. His recent work explores the use of milk proteins and phospholipids in designing nano-encapsulation and delivery systems for bioactive compounds.  Established in 2004, the William C. Haines Dairy Science Award was created to recognize individuals who, through their accomplishments in research and development in the field of chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, technology, nutrition, and/or engineering, have made a significant contribution to dairy science and the betterment of the dairy industry and consumers of dairy products. Past award winners include David Barbano of Cornell University, Todd Klaenhammer of North Carolina State University and Paul Ross of the Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre.  The award, named for William C. Haines, former Vice President of Product Innovation for Dairy Management Inc., includes an engraved plaque, $1,000 in cash and travel expenses to an annual dairy industry event co-sponsored by the CDRF. A committee of dairy personnel representing producers, processors, manufacturers and researchers make the final award selection. Nomination forms for the 2009 award are available online at www.cdrf.org under ³Awards & Giving.² The deadline to submit 2009 nomination forms and supporting materials is September 22, 2008.

About the CDRF
The California Dairy Research Foundation is a non-profit corporation that manages the research activities of the California dairy industry in the areas of basic and applied dairy product research, nutrition, dairy herd health, and food safety. For information about CDRF and the research it supports, visit www.cdrf.org.