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Celebrating the NZIFST CREST FOOD INNOVATION CHALLENGE (2009 - 2019)

The NZIFST CREST Food Innovation Challenge (previously named the NZIFST CREST Student Product Development Challenge) was a secondary schools competition for teams developing new food products

The Food Innovation Challenge was run by NZIFST in partnership with CREST
(https://royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/funds-and-opportunities/crest-awards/crest-challenges/nzifst-crest-challenge/ ), the international awards scheme administered by the Royal Society Te Apārangi. It challenged teams of senior secondary school students to develop a consumer food product, following the principles of food product development as used in the food processing industry. The Challenge debuted in 2009 and ran for 11 years, until 2019.

The Challenge involved collaboration between NZIFST, CREST, the Massey Institute of Food Science and Technology , the Department of Food Science at the University of Otago , other tertiary institutes offering degrees in food science and technology, and the food processing industry. It was designed to introduce secondary students to the exciting world of food product development and career options in food science, technology and engineering.

Product development investigations were based on the Team Silver Challenge CREST project framework, and students successfully completing a project received a Team Silver Challenge CREST Award. CREST projects could be linked to credits for NCEA or other curriculum programmes, and entered into regional Science and Technology Fairs and other such competitions.

You can read details about projects students entered into the NZIFST CREST Food Innovation Challenge, on the Technology Online website, at http://technology.tki.org.nz/Resources/Student-showcases/Food-technology-and-Biotechnology

NZIFST CREST FOOD INNOVATION CHALLENGE NEWS:

Winners of the Auckland Challenge, the Mount Albert Grammar School Whey Tea team
with their teacher (left) and Sarah Leakey from the Auckland Branch of NZIFST, who presented them with their trophy.

2019 NZIFST CREST Food Innovation Challenge - results and posters

Results of the 2019 NZIFST CREST Food Innovation Challenge - Lower North Island and Blenheim (pdf)
For the second year in a row, we held a judging event in Wellington, to accommodate teams from the Lower North Island and Blenheim. The event was hosted by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
By Jenny Dee.

Results of the 2019 NZIFST CREST Food Innovation Challenge - Auckland (pdf)
Judging of the Auckland Challenge was hosted by the Auckland branch of NZIFST and Massey University on 23 September.
By Jenny Dee.

Edna Waddell Undergraduate Scholarships for Women in Technology and Engineering (pdf)
Professors Emeriti Dick and Mary Earle made a huge contribution to developing the biotechnology and food technology degrees, respectively, at Massey University in the 1960s.
By Jenny Dee.

Massey University provides professional development for food technology and science teachers, 2018 (pdf)
In April, the Massey Institute of Food Science and Technology ran a one day professional development course for food technology and science teachers who are supervising students doing the 2018 NZIFST CREST Student Product Development Challenge.
By Jenny Dee.

FOOD INNOVATION CHALLENGE SUCCESS STORIES:

Two ex-Challengers share their stories:
Madison Franks did the Challenge in 2016, when she was a student at Carmel College. She’s now in her second year at Massey, doing a Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours, majoring in Product Development.
Emily Doughty did the Challenge in 2018, when she was at Diocesan School for Girls. Emily is now in her first year at Otago, studying consumer food science.
Ex-Challenger stories 2019 (pdf)

2016 Technology Scholarship for NZIFST/CREST Student Product Development Challenger:
Congratulations to Tajpreet Padda from Woodford House School, who was awarded a 2016 Technology Scholarship. Tajpreet and her teammates Caitlin Maiorana and Catie Nettlingham were participants in the 2016 NZIFST CREST Student Product Development Challenge.
https://royalsociety.org.nz/news/2016-technology-scholarship-for-nzifstcrest-student-product-development-challenger/

From CREST to Graduate Programme:
From her introduction to the idea of food technology and the application of science in practical and real world situations as part of the 2010 NZIFST/CREST Student Product Development Challenge, Morgan Christy-Jones has gone on to study towards a Bachelor of Food Technology at Massey University, and was accepted into the Fonterra Technical Graduate Programme, where she is now working towards a Masters of Food Technology:
https://royalsociety.org.nz/news/from-crest-to-graduate-programme/

FEATURED PAST PROJECTS

A TECHNOLOGY ONLINE Student Showcase article about the Racey Recovery team from Diocesan School for Girls, who won the 2011 NZIFST/CREST Student Product Development Challenge in the upper North Island, now features on the Techlink website:
http://technology.tki.org.nz/Student-Pages/Food-and-Bio-related/Racey-Recovery-sports-bar

A TECHNOLOGY ONLINE Student Showcase article about the ACES team from Sancta Maria College, who were highly commended in the 2011 NZIFST/CREST Student Product Development Challenge in the upper North Island:
http://technology.tki.org.nz/Student-Pages/Food-and-Bio-related/Professional-cookie-development

A TECHNOLOGY ONLINE Student Showcase article about Estelle Johnson and Kate Morris of St Kentigern College, who entered in the 2009 NZIFST/CREST Student Product Development Challenge, to develop and produce to prototype stage a range of biscuits for the teenage market:
http://technology.tki.org.nz/Student-Pages/Food-and-Bio-related/Food-and-Bio-related-Estelle-Johnson-and-Kate-Morris-of-St-Kentigern-College

A TECHNOLOGY ONLINE Student Showcase article about the Grain Brains team from Kavanagh College, who won the 2010 NZIFST/CREST Student Product Development Challenge in Dunedin, now features on the Techlink website:
http://technology.tki.org.nz/Student-Pages/Food-and-Bio-related/Grain-Brains-Biodegradable-planter-pots

Also a TECHNOLOGY ONLINE Student Showcase article about the C-Monster team from Wellington High, who won the 2010 NZIFST/CREST Student Product Development Challenge, lower North Island:
http://technology.tki.org.nz/Student-Pages/Food-and-Bio-related/C-Monster-award-winning-chocolate-milk-sports-drink

The New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (Inc.)

Address:
PO Box 44322
Pt Chevalier
Auckland 1022
NEW ZEALAND

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