Teagasc’s Paul Ross Presented with William C. Haines Dairy Science Award

The California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF) has presented Professor Paul Ross, head of Teagasc’s biotechnology department at Moorepark Food Research Centre, with the William C. Haines Dairy Science Award in recognition of his contribution to the field of dairy science at the 9th Cal Poly Dairy Ingredients Symposium in San Francisco. Paul gave a presentation on mining biodiversity for fermented dairy products such as yogurt and cheese.

Joseph O’Donnell, executive director of the CDRF, presenting the award said: “Professor Ross has played a leading role in creating a multinational focus on developing and delivering dairy products to a world in need of improved nutrition. His work in microbiology, especially in exploring lactic acid bacteria and probiotics and their antimicrobial peptides, will influence the future quality of dairy products.”

Accepting the award, Paul said: “I’m delighted and flattered to receive this recognition for our work and I’m very pleased to share this honour with my collaborators, researchers and students at Teagasc, University College Cork and the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre. This award acknowledges the impact dairy science has on the health of consumers and the industry itself. Looking ahead, there’s great potential for functional foods to be the big breakthrough in the dairy sector. To achieve this, however, there needs to be an increased investment in transdisciplinary research which spans food science through to medical research and cell biology to provide the essential scientific evidence for health promotion.”

Professor Ross was instrumental in securing funding for the Teagasc Biotechnology Centre for research on food and health and animal biotechnology. He is the inventor on 11 patents and has licensed a number of technologies to Irish industries including the use of lacticin antimicrobial peptides for food uses. He serves on a number of boards and committees including the executive management group of the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, the Glanbia Scientific Advisory Committee, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the European Food Safety Authority on genetically modified microorganisms. He also acts as an adjunct professor of University College Cork where he lectures on food biotechnology.

The William C. Haines Dairy Science Award, established in 2004, recognises 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.

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.