The winner of the 2022 Arrell Global Food Innovation Award for research impact is Dr. Delia Grace Randolph.
When we look at the relationship between human, animal and environmental health we address big issues. This concept, One Health, has become more widely studied and utilized to address all kinds of global challenges. For instance, the health of livestock that are part of a food system can affect the health of humans.
With a background in veterinary medicine and epidemiology, Dr. Delia Grace Randolph, winner of the 2022 Arrell Global Food Innovation Award winner for research impact, has contributed significantly to this area.
Delia is a Professor of Food Safety Systems at the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich. She is also Joint Appointed Scientist, Animal and Human Health Program at the International Livestock Research Institute. She is a renowned scientist with unique and transformative impacts on the safety of food systems and public health in developing countries. As a trained veterinarian and epidemiologist, she brings a special expertise on the interconnectedness of animal health, human health and eco-health to her work.
In different countries across the world, informal food markets are an important part of the local economy providing people access to food and jobs. The markets are engrained in the society and way of life. However, there are sometimes health risks with the sale of fresh food at these markets.
Through Delia’s work she has identified how food safety can be improved at these markets, particularly with nutritious but risky animal-sourced food like meat and dairy, so that workers and consumers can stay healthy while ensuring that these markets remain a central source of food for the people who depend on them.
Delia and her colleagues go beyond the scientific aspects by recognizing and supporting the societal and cultural values of different jurisdictions. While educating is important, being able to build capacity in a way that is relevant to the community will have the most significant, longlasting impact on the local food system and the health of the people who live there.
“I’m honoured to be named the recipient of the Arrell Global Food Innovation Award in the area of research impact,” she said.
“There is a very critical relationship between animal, human, and environment health and I hope we can continue to research and find ways to help improve food safety and thus the health of humans and animals. While there is still a lot to learn, by listening and engaging, thinking and trying, we can achieve much more.”
Delia’s research has had a significant impact on the food safety and public health in communities in developing countries. These contributions in combination with her leadership have inspired others to find ways to improve health of humans and animals and ultimately provide for a stronger and more resilient food system for our future.
The Arrell Global Food Innovation Awards are two $100,000 prizes that are awarded in the categories of research impact and community engagement. Awarded annually since 2018, the awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant impact to local and global food systems.
