Renowned Riddet Institute Fellow and Massey University alumnus Dr Mike Boland has been inducted into the JC Andrews Hall of Fame, the highest honour awarded by the New Zealand Institute of Food Science & Technology (NZIFST).
The award recognises senior members of the Institute who have made substantial contributions to food science, technology, and industry leadership. For Boland, it marks another milestone in a research career spanning more than five decades at the forefront of food innovation.
A native of Feilding and graduate of Massey University (BSc Hons, 1971; PhD, 1974), Boland has built an international reputation for bridging academic excellence with practical innovation. His work has advanced global understanding of milk composition, meat processing, and digestive nutrition – particularly the role of kiwifruit in protein digestion.
“Mike Boland has had a truly distinguished career, and this award reflects not just his scientific achievements but his visionary leadership,” says Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan, acting director of the Riddet Institute. “He has consistently identified emerging opportunities – from personalised nutrition to AI in food systems – well before they entered mainstream thinking.”
Boland’s impact has been widely felt across New Zealand’s food research landscape. After 25 years with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, he spent 16 years leading science at Fonterra, before joining the Riddet Institute as Principal Scientist, where he helped shape the Institute’s research direction and strategy for nearly two decades.
In total, he has authored or co-authored more than 125 peer-reviewed publications, 40 book chapters, and six patents. He led major R&D programmes for the New Zealand Dairy Board, managed multi-institutional collaborations, and has remained a strong advocate for leveraging science to improve health through food.
Now retiring from formal roles, Boland will continue to serve the Riddet Institute in an advisory capacity as a Fellow, offering mentorship and strategic input.
