Birmingham Academic wins Applied Microbiology International Award

This prestigious award is designed for professionals, researchers, and innovators who have made significant contributions to food safety, security, and sustainable agricultural practices. It recognises efforts to enhance food production methods, address global hunger, and contributions to sustainable industrial processes, with an emphasis on tangible impacts in these vital areas.

Dr. Onyeaka, Associate Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering and Deputy Director of the Birmingham Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA), is an industrial microbiologist with more than 25 years of experience. Her groundbreaking research focuses on food security, sustainable food systems, and innovative microbiological solutions to global challenges, with work that spans academia, industry, and public policy.

The 2024 Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award recognises Helen's pioneering advancements in ohmic baking technology, producing bread with enhanced nutritional properties and using algae-based flour to diversify food sources while reducing the environmental impact of traditional agriculture. Her development of Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to enhance the antimicrobial activity of nisin, a natural food preservative, further highlights her innovative approach to improving food safety and sustainability. Through collaborations with industry and cutting-edge innovations like microbial foods and biodegradable packaging, Helen is committed to transforming food production and minimising environmental impacts. The award also recognises her significant contributions to her field through work in food waste valorisation, converting waste into valuable products that reduce food loss and maximise resource use.

As a registered trainer with the UK Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and in partnership with Biovitae, Helen supports environmental health practitioners with training for food safety officers and developing technologies that manage antimicrobial resistance. Her passion for food security aligns with the global goal of eradicating hunger by 2030 and addressing hidden threats to food supplies from climate change, ensuring a sustainable future for future generations.

Applied Microbiology International (AMI) is the oldest microbiology society in the UK. In addition to research funding, they also publish leading industry magazine The Microbiologist and three internationally acclaimed journals in partnership with Oxford University Press. Their annual Horizon Awards promote excellence across various domains of applied microbiology, with each award tailored to meet global challenges. The Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award honours the legacy of distinguished microbiologist Professor Basil Jarvis by recognising and supporting outstanding achievements in the field, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).