The International Association for Food Protection is looking nominations for awards to be presented at this year’s annual conference. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022.

The awards will be presented at IAFP’s annual conference is set for July 31-Aug. 3 next year in Pittsburgh, PA.

The categories range from the Black Pearl Award — the association’s top award — for corporate excellence in food safety to travel scholarships for food safety students who want to attend the IAFP annual conference.

Those submitting nominations are not required to be an IAFP member for most of the awards. Nominations for all awards, unless otherwise indicated, are due by Feb.15, 2022, and can be completed through the IAFP website.

The association encourages its members to apply for the travel expense awards for employees of state or provincial health or agricultural departments in North America. There is also an IAFP travel award for food safety professionals in a country with a developing economy to attend the IAFP annual meeting and conference. Student travel scholarship criteria is available on the IAFP students’ page.

Some of the awards scheduled to be presented in 2022 are:

Black Pearl Award
Award Showcasing the Black Pearl. Presented in recognition of a company’s outstanding achievement in corporate excellence in food safety and quality. Sponsored by: F&H Food Equipment Company. 2021 Recipient: Mondelḕz International

Fellows Award
Presented to member(s) who have contributed to IAFP and its affiliates with distinction over an extended period of time. 2021 Recipient: Jianghong Meng

President’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Given at the discretion of the IAFP president to recognize an individual who has made a lasting impact on “Advancing Food Safety Worldwide” through a lifetime of professional achievement in food protection. 2021 Recipient: Carl Custer

Honorary Life Membership Award
The Honorary Life Membership Award recognizes IAFP members for their dedication to the high ideals and objectives of the International Association for Food Protection and for dedicated service to the Association. 2021 Recipients: Kenneth Anderson, Mickey Parish, Judy Greig, F. Tracy Schonrock, Edward Wellmeyer.

Harry Haverland Citation Award
$2,500 honorarium presented to an individual for years of devotion to the ideals and objectives of IAFP. Sponsored by Eurofins. 2021 Recipient: Dale A. Grinstead

Food Safety Innovation Award
$2,500 honorarium presented to an individual or organization for creating a new idea, practice, or product that has had a positive impact on food safety, thus, improving public health, and the quality of life. Sponsored by: Walmart. 2021 Recipient: Hygiena

International Leadership Award
$2,000 Honorarium and reimbursement to attend IAFP 2021. Presented to an individual for dedication to the high ideals and objectives of IAFP and for promotion of the mission of the Association in countries outside of the United States and Canada. Sponsored by: Food Safety Net Services (FSNS). 2021 Recipient: Terence L. T. Lau

Food Safety Award
$2,000 Honorarium. This award alternates between individuals and groups or organizations. In 2021, the award will be presented to a group or organization for highly significant food safety development or in recognition of a long history of outstanding contributions to food safety. Sponsored by: Consumer Brands Association (CBA). 2021 Recipient: The Center for Produce Safety

Frozen Food Foundation Freezing Research Award
$2,000 Honorarium. Presented to an individual, group or organization for preeminence and outstanding contributions in research that impacts food safety attributes of freezing. Sponsored by: Frozen Food Foundation. 2021 Recipient: Shyam Sablani

Institut Merieux Young Investigator Award in Antimicrobial Resistance
Payment of €10,000 to support further research work by the laureate. Presented at the IAFP Annual Meeting to an active IAFP Member who has shown outstanding ability and professional promise as a researcher in food microbiology/food safety, focusing on antimicrobial resistance. Sponsored by: Institut Merieux. 2021 Recipient: Laura Carroll

Maurice Weber Laboratorian Award
$2,000 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for outstanding contributions in the laboratory, recognizing a commitment to the development of innovative and practical analytical approaches in support of food safety. Sponsored by: The Fred and Elizabeth Weber Trust. 2021 Recipient: Panagiotis N. Skandamis

Larry Beuchat Young Researcher Award
$2,000 Honorarium. Presented to a young researcher who has shown outstanding ability and professional promise in the early years of their career. Sponsored by: bioMérieux, Inc. 2021 Recipient: Laura K. Strawn

James M. Jay Diversity in Food Safety Award
Recognizes an active IAFP Member who has made significant contributions toward fostering diversity within food safety-related careers, activities, or research. The award consists of a plaque and a $2,500 honorarium. Sponsored by: 3M Food Safety. 2021 Recipient: Armitra Jackson-Davis

Ewen C.D. Todd Control of Foodborne Illness Award
$1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for dedicated and exceptional contributions to the reduction of risks to foodborne illness. Sponsored by: Marler Clark Attorneys at Law. 2021 Recipient: Craig W. Hedberg

Sanitarian Award
$1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for outstanding service to the public, IAFP and the profession of the Sanitarian. Sponsored by: Sponsored by Ecolab Inc. 2021 Recipient: Richard Brouillette

Elmer Marth Educator Award
$1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for outstanding service to the public, IAFP and the arena of education in food safety and food protection. Sponsored by: Nelson-Jameson, Inc. 2021 Recipient: Elizabeth A. Bihn

Harold Barnum Industry Award
$1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for outstanding service to the public, IAFP and the food industry. Sponsored by: MERCK Animal Health. 2021 Recipient: Melanie J. Neumann

Travel Award for Food Safety Professionals in a Country with a Developing Economy
Travel funds to attend the annual meeting of the International Association for Food Protection. Presented to food safety professionals working full-time in the field of food safety in a country with a developing economy. Sponsored by: IAFP Foundation. 2021 Recipients: Kubir Nath Bhattarai, Titilayo Falade, Amin Olaimat.

Travel Award for Health or Agricultural Department Employees in North America
Travel funds to attend the annual meeting of the International Association for Food Protection. Presented to city, county, state, or provincial health or agricultural department employees (epidemiologists, food and molecular microbiologists, and environmental health specialists) working in North America. Sponsored by: IAFP Foundation. 2021 Recipient: Jennifer Eberly

Student Travel Scholarship
Travel funds to attend the annual meeting of the International Association for Food Protection. IAFP recognizes that students from around the world are the future leaders in the field of food safety. Since 2004, the IAFP Foundation has been dedicated to enhancing the career potential of exceptional students through the annual IAFP Student Travel Scholarship Program. Sponsored by: IAFP Foundation. 2021 Recipients: Jessica Brown, Shiyu Cai, Bienvenido Cortes, Devin Daeschel, Adwoa Dankwa, Minh Duong, Marina Girbal, Sarah L. Jones, Karuna Kharel, Minji Kim, Brenda Moraa Kimang’a, Xingchen Liu, Ajay Mittal, Owade Joshua Ombaka, Solomon Rajkumar Racharla, Keshnee Reega, Anna Townsend, Joseph Wambui, Christina Wormald, Jiyoon Yi.

Peanut Proud Student Scholarship Award
Provides a $2,000 academic scholarship and travel funding for a U.S. graduate student in the field of food microbiology – and specifically in the area of and peanut butter food safety – to attend the annual meeting. Peanut Proud is a nonprofit industry organization based in Georgia. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Friday, April 30, 2021. Sponsored by: Peanut Proud. 2021 Recipient: Daniel Vega

J.Mac Goepfert Developing Scientists Awards
Presented to students (enrolled or recent graduates) in the field of food safety research at accredited universities or colleges. Qualified individuals may enter either the technical or poster competition. Sponsored by: IAFP Foundation.

Undergraduate Student Award Competition
Presented to two undergraduate students at accredited universities or colleges who have entered this poster competition, based on the criteria. Sponsored by: IAFP Foundation

Samuel J. Crumbine Award
From 1955 to 1966 two awards were given: the first for general environmental health, the second for food protection. From 1968 to 1973, the award was suspended because of a general lack of innovation in food protection programs during that period. The award is sponsored by the Conference for Food Protection (CFP), in cooperation with the American Academy of Sanitarians, American Public Health Association, Association of Food and Drug Officials, Food Marketing Institute, Foodservice Packaging Institute, International Association for Food Protection, National Association of County & City Health Officials, National Environmental Health Association, National Restaurant Association, NSF International, and Underwriters Laboratories. 2021 Recipient: Washoe County Health District