Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award Previous Winners
On this page, you can find previous winners of the Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award. Established in 2022, the award recognises professionals, researchers, and innovators whose work has delivered meaningful advances in food safety, food security, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award 2025
Professor Joana Falcao Salles
Professor Joana Falcão Salles, Professor of Microbial Community Ecology at the University of Groningen, was named as the winner of the Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award as part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2025.
Her research focuses on soil and plant-associated microbiomes and their role in supporting sustainable agriculture. By integrating ecological theory with experimental and computational approaches, Professor Falcão Salles has advanced understanding of how microbial diversity underpins ecosystem resilience, disease suppression, and reduced reliance on chemical inputs.
Through interdisciplinary collaboration, her work connects fundamental microbiome science with practical applications for food security and sustainable agricultural practice, reflecting the core aims of the Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award.
Read more: Professor Joana Falcao Salles named as winner of Basil Jarvis Award
Previous Winners
Dr Helen Onyeaka
Dr Helen Onyeaka, an industrial microbiologist at the University of Birmingham, was named as the winner of the Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award as part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2024.
With more than 25 years’ experience across academia, industry, and policy, Dr Onyeaka’s work focuses on food security, sustainable food systems, and microbiological innovation. Her research translates applied microbiology into practical solutions that enhance food safety, reduce waste, and support resilient food production in the face of climate change.
Through work on food waste valorisation, microbial foods, biodegradable packaging, and sustainable processing technologies, her research demonstrates how applied microbiology can deliver tangible advances in food security and sustainable agriculture, reflecting the core aims of the Basil Jarvis Award.
Read more: Dr Helen Onyeaka named as winner of Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award 2024
Dr Ben Swift
Dr Ben Swift of the Royal Veterinary College was named as the winner of the Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award as part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards.
A microbiologist specialising in food safety and animal health, Dr Swift’s work focuses on improving the detection and control of mycobacterial infections that affect livestock and food systems. As Founder and Director of Research and Development at PBD Biotech, he has played a key role in developing and commercialising bacteriophage-based diagnostic technologies that enable rapid, low-cost detection of diseases such as bovine tuberculosis and Johne’s disease.
By improving disease diagnosis and control in cattle, his work supports more sustainable livestock production, reduces food loss, and strengthens food security, particularly in low- and middle-income settings, reflecting the core aims of the Basil Jarvis Award.
Read more: Dr Ben Swift named as winner of Basil Jarvis Prize
Dr Tanushree Gupta
Dr Tanushree Gupta is a Senior Scientist at AgResearch in New Zealand whose work focuses on food safety, dairy and meat microbiology, and the discovery of natural antimicrobial compounds to improve food quality and shelf life. Her research explores microbial spoilage and foodborne pathogens, identifying novel antimicrobials that support safer, more sustainable food systems.
Awarded the Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award in 2022, Dr Gupta used her prize funding to support internships for early-career scientists investigating new antimicrobial solutions, helping to build capacity and skills for the next generation of researchers in applied microbiology.
Her work bridges fundamental microbiological research with practical applications for food safety and security, reflecting the core aims of the Basil Jarvis Award.
Watch: AMI Horizon Awards - Basil Jarvis Prize 2022 - Tanushree Gupta