Value proposition

The Riddet Institute is the New Zealand national centre for fundamental and strategic scientific research in food.

The Riddet Institute is a national Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) which focuses on world-class food and nutritional sciences, in collaboration with international research and higher education organisations.

The Riddet Institute was established in 2003, being awarded CoRE status by the New Zealand government in 2008, and has strong partnerships with Massey University (its host institution), University of Otago, University of Auckland, Plant & Food Research and AgResearch, as well as other international academic networks. The Riddet Institute’s core values include excellent science which creates outstanding research, world-class education which generates tomorrow’s agri-food thought leaders, and a commitment to future-proofing New Zealand’s food industries. Our strategic priorities are:

• A critical mass in food science and related disciplines showcasing New Zealand science excellence
• An enhanced capacity for food research and food innovation in the New Zealand agri-food sector
• Leading postgraduate scholars and postdoctoral fellows
• Innovation in the New Zealand food industry
• A world-leading, informed and engaged agri-food sector in New Zealand
• Improved economic, educational and health outcomes for Māori
• Contribution towards the prevention and management of lifestyle diseases

The Riddet Institute community comprises Principal Investigators, Associate Investigators, Affiliated Researchers, Post-Doctoral Fellows and PhD and Masters Students. Our Principal Investigators have published on overage >200 peer reviewed papers each and 75% of our publications are in the top quartile for Impact Factor of journals. Our top quality students come from all over the world and, following their studies, they are readily sought for positions in industry and academia in New Zealand, as well as internationally. The Riddet Institute regularly scores within the top 1% of comparable organisations nationally and internationally. It is a world-class science institution.


Research Excellence in the Field of Food Science, Future-proofing New Zealand's Food Industries, and Creating Tomorrow's Thought Leaders from Top-Quality Students