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A new 3-A SSI award, the HyGEN Excellence Awards, will give the industry an opportunity to celebrate rising stars under 40.
The award is meant to provide career-defining recognition for young professionals who advance food safety through innovative hygienic design practices worldwide. These awards spotlight talented individuals whose work is already ensuring safer food systems globally. Recipients will be pioneering new approaches, implementing breakthrough solutions, and mentoring the next generation.
“The 2026 inaugural award recipients will make history as the first class to enter what is sure to become an elite network of food safety innovators and leaders,” says Meri Beth Wojtaszek, 3-A SSI Executive Director.
As many as 40 awards will be given annually across six professional categories:
3-A SSI will honor the 2026 class of HyGEN Excellence Awards recipients at the 3-A SSI Summit on Hygienic Design, May 4 to 7, 2026, at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare.
Do you know someone who deserves recognition? This is yourchance to nominate the innovators and leaders who will shape the future of our industry. (Yes, you can even nominate yourself!)
Nominations are open to professionals under 40 working across all sectors of food safety and hygienic design worldwide. The nomination process is open now. It closes February 27, 2026.
3-ASSI has launched an all-new Student Hygienic Design Competition. It gives students an opportunity to launch their careers while competing as part of an interdisciplinary team for bragging rights and a share of $10,000 in prize money.
The application is open for the 3-A SSI Dr. Ron Schmidt Student Travel Award. Recipients attend the 3-A SSI 2026 Summit on Hygienic Design, present a poster, and are treated to a VIP experience. After the event, recipients' research is published on the 3-A blog and promoted on social media. Many students land internships or full-time jobs as a result of the recognition.
After a productive and engaging PACK EXPO, the 3-A SSI team turns its sights to EATS and the IDFA DairyTech Conference.
Evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of turmeric curcumin nano-emulsions for pathogen load reduction on cantaloupe surface (Cucumis melo L.)
