The Nils Foss Prize

Now, you have the chance to be a part of something big! Before the grand finale of The Nils Foss Prize award ceremony and reception takes place once again November 12, 2025, the highly anticipated Food Analytics Conference is hosted at Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen. You have the opportunity to get your latest discoveries and research presented together with leaders from academia and industry as a speaker at this exciting free event. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to network with industry experts, gain valuable insights, and be at the forefront of innovation in food technology. Submit your abstract no later than July 1, 2025: https://lnkd.in/eWFmk4UQ #Innovation #FoodScience #Sustainability #Networking #Research

Meet last year’s winner of the Nils Foss Talent Prize: Leonie Jahn 🌱    In 2024, the Nils Foss Talent Prize was awarded to Leonie Jahn, Co-Principal Investigator at DTU - Technical University of Denmark, for her groundbreaking work combining multi-omics, molecular biology, and traditional food production. Leonie’s research sits at the intersection of microbiology, culture, and sustainability – using microbial fermentation to help build more sustainable food systems.    “It’s an honor to be recognized by the international community of food scientists with such a respected award. At the same time, I see this prize not just as a personal achievement, but as a celebration of the work done by my entire research team and collaborators.” – Leonie Jahn    The award has already opened new doors, leading to two new collaborative research projects with international partners. Leonie plans to spend the prize money on team building and science communication activities to further strengthen her group’s work.    💡 What drives her? A deep fascination with the complexity of life, especially microbes, and a strong desire to apply scientific knowledge in ways that benefit both people and the planet. Leonie highlights three key lessons from her research journey: 1. Find your niche. Working on something you’re truly passionate about sustains you through challenges. 2. Collaboration is essential. Great ideas grow stronger through shared insights. 3. Balance matters. Science thrives when we also make space for rest, relationships, and growth. We are proud to recognize scientists like Leonie Jahn who are using their passion and expertise to create meaningful change.     You can hear Leonie as a keynote speaker for the Food Analytics Conference 2025.     Reserve you free ticket right now, and be a part of The Nils Foss Prize Award Ceremony afterwards: https://nilsfossprize.com/   

Spotlight on last year’s winner of the Nils Foss Excellence Prize: Professor Rudolf Krska 🏆 When Dr. Krska received The Nils Foss Prize in 2024, it was not only a recognition of his outstanding contributions to food science, but it also marked the beginning of new global collaborations and meaningful impact. “Receiving The Nils Foss Prize was one of the most memorable moments of my career. It made me feel incredibly grateful and inspired to continue pushing the boundaries in food science.” - Dr. Krska. True to the spirit of the prize, Dr. Krska chose to invest the award in the next generation of researchers. Most of the prize money has been donated to support a collaborative PhD project between Queen's University Belfast, Thammasat University in Thailand, and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), focusing on advanced spectroscopic methods to combat food fraud in the ASEAN region. The prize has also opened doors to new international partnerships across Europe, Africa, and Asia, where Dr. Krska continues to address some of the most pressing global challenges in food safety and sustainability. 🎓 His advice to young researchers? Stay curious, be persistent, and seek out global collaboration. Engaging with real-world challenges, especially alongside industry, can greatly enhance the relevance of your work. We are excited to hear more from Dr. Krska at the upcoming Food Analytics Conference on November 12, where he will be one of the two keynote speakers. The Nils Foss Prize 2025 award ceremony will take place right after the conference. Would you like to attend and be inspired by him? Register for your free ticket here: https://nilsfossprize.com/

Get ready for The Nils Foss Prize 2025!    We are happy once again to invite you to join us for the celebration of excellence and groundbreaking research.     📅 Date: November 12, 2025  📍 Location: The Ceremonial Hall, Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen    Last year’s ceremony was fantastic, where Rudolf Krska and Leonie Jahn received the Excellence Prize and the Talent Prize.    The Nils Foss Prize honors excellent innovative research leading to remarkable improvements in sustainability, quality and safety in the food supply chain.     No exception this year, where we are looking forward to announcing and celebrating the new 2025 recipients.    Register for your free spot here: https://nilsfossprize.com/

Proudly announcing the 2024 winners of The Nils Foss Prize!    The prizes honors and provides established as well as upcoming and talented researchers within the field of food and agriculture with recognition and a springboard to take their research even further.    This year, the Nils Foss Excellence Prize (€100,000) was awarded to Professor Rudolf Krska from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU).   Professor Krska was awarded the prize for his more than 30 years of performing excellent research. He has become a global leader in the identification, assessment and management of known and emerging food safety hazards and associated risks with special emphasis on mycotoxins and other secondary metabolites produced by plants and fungi.    The Nils Foss Talent Prize (€15,000) went to Co-Principal Investigator Leonie Johanna Jahn from DTU - Technical University of Denmark. For her work on harnessing the power of microorganisms to develop sustainable, nutritious, and delicious foods combined with high throughput analytical testing.    A big congratulations to the two winners of this year’s prizes. Thank you for being a part of evolving food analytics and the world in a positive way.    We are looking forward to next year’s ceremony on November 13, 2025. You can already register for your free spot here: https://nilsfossprize.com/ 

We are happy to announce Kari Tronsmo as a new member of The Nils Foss Prize Committee.    Kari has a strong background in food science, R&D, and innovation. She holds a MSc from ECPM Ecole européenne de chimie polymères et matériaux de Strasbourg and a PhD from the NMBU - Norwegian University of Life Sciences and has held various roles spanning from academic research at Nofima and University of Reading, product development at Mondelēz International, innovation director acting on R&I leadership and category management at CSM Bakery Solutions. She is currently in charge of Open Innovation for Sustainability at Danone and acting as President of the Protein Diversification Think Tank initiated by EIT Food. Kari will join us for The Nils Foss Prize Award Ceremony in the afternoon when she officially joins the prize committee. We look forward to meeting and engaging with leading professionals in food analytics and innovation on November 13th.   Read more about The Nils Foss Prize here: https://nilsfossprize.com/

The story behind the glass sculpture for The Nils Foss Prize Award 🌾 Since its establishment in 2016, The Nils Foss Prize Award has been symbolized by a decorative glass sculpture. Each sculpture is uniquely designed and handmade, ensuring that the recipients receive a special and personal honor. From the beginning, these glass awards have been more than just trophies. They are works of art crafted by the renowned Danish glass artist Torben Jørgensen. His expertise and reputation in the world of glass art have made him the ideal choice for creating the sculptures. When selected to design the glass sculptures for the prize, Torben Jørgensen knew exactly how to bring his vision to life. The design process was thoughtful and deliberate, with the choice of glass and form being no coincidence. He was certain from the outset that the grain motif from The Nils Foss Prize logo would play a central role in the final design, symbolizing the core values of the prize and its connection to sustainable food production. Torben Jørgensen's work has been exhibited both in Denmark and internationally, earning him numerous accolades. His art is represented in prestigious institutions such as The Corning Museum of Glass in the USA and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Copenhagen (now Designmuseum Danmark), and his pieces also grace private collections worldwide. In the coming years, Torben Jørgensen’s daughter, Karin Mørch, will take over the creation of the sculptures. Karin is a respected glass artist with over 20 years of experience. We are honored and delighted that the prizes will continue to maintain the same design, quality, and spirit under her management, preserving the artistic legacy established by her father.

"A tremendous honor”.   Those were the first words of Lutz Grossmann, Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, when he was asked how it felt to be awarded the prestigious Nils Foss Talent Prize last year. 👏🌍🔬     The prize recognizes Lutz’s groundbreaking work in exploring new food ingredients by extending analytical methods to alternative proteins derived from algae, bacteria, and plants.       In reflecting on this achievement, Lutz made it clear that this recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of his lab members, who are committed to advancing the food system every day.     He chose to use the prize money to fund lab trips and meetings, fostering collaboration and driving his and his team’s research forward. With team members from six different countries, the prize has been instrumental in bridging cultural gaps and strengthening the lab's connections.     For more insights into Lutz's research, don't miss his keynote at this year's Food Analytics Conference on November 13th!      Following the conference, join us for The Nils Foss Prize Award Ceremony. Secure your spot here: https://nilsfossprize.com/