Fellowship fuels food for thought

Feeding nearly a billion undernourished people, and obesity in over-indulging wealthy nations are two of the biggest food problems facing the world today, according to Emeritus Professor Ken Buckle, newly elected Fellow of the US Institute of Food Technologists.

Professor Buckle, from the food science and technology group in UNSW's School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering was made a fellow of the IFT, one the world's leading food science organisations, for his commitment to teaching and promoting food safety. He was also honoured for more than 30 years of service to the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology, an organisation dedicated to improving the nation's food supply through supporting research and education.

In its citation, the IFT paid tribute to Professor Buckle for his 40-year contribution to education in food science and technology. He becomes only the third Australian IFT Fellow since the organisation began awarding fellowships in 1970.

Professor Buckle said the award was a great honour after a long career dedicated to improving knowledge about food safety and technology. The now-retired academic said there were many significant food-related issues facing the world today but two of the largest were the opposing problems of too little food for people in developing countries, and too much causing an obesity epidemic in the developed world.

"International authorities report that the number of people identified as living in poverty has increased by at least 100 million over the last couple of years, taking the number to around 950 million people," he said.

"On the other hand, I think it should concern everyone that there are far too many people who are carrying too much weight. One of the things that struck me in the US last week was the huge portion sizes: when you are paying good money for good food and then leaving half of it on the plate it's just an unnecessary waste."

Media Contact: Peter Trute | 02 9385 1933 | p.trute@unsw.edu.au