Scientist Awarded World Food Prize for Advancing Food Safety Standards

Huub Lelieveld's work has prevented millions of cases of foodborne illness worldwide.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 6:18pm

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Huub Lelieveld of the Netherlands has been awarded the 2026 World Food Prize for his six decades of work advancing food processing safety standards used globally. His research and advocacy have helped reduce foodborne illnesses and food waste by promoting more efficient and less chemically-reliant manufacturing processes.

Why it matters

Unsafe food causes 600 million cases of foodborne illness and 420,000 deaths each year globally. Lelieveld's pioneering work on hygienic food production methods has had a major impact on improving public health and food security around the world.

The details

Lelieveld began his career at Unilever, where he worked to develop more efficient and less chemically-dependent food manufacturing processes. He convinced the company to allow him to publish his research so the technology could be disseminated globally. After four decades at Unilever, Lelieveld founded the Global Harmonization Initiative in 2004 to promote consensus in international food safety regulations and address critical food security challenges.

  • Lelieveld began his career as a food researcher at Unilever in the 1960s.
  • Lelieveld founded the Global Harmonization Initiative in 2004.
  • Lelieveld was awarded the 2026 World Food Prize on March 25, 2026.

The players

Huub Lelieveld

A scientist from the Netherlands who pioneered modern food processing safety standards used around the world, earning him the 2026 World Food Prize.

Global Harmonization Initiative

A nonprofit organization founded by Lelieveld in 2004 to promote consensus in international food and trade regulations and address critical food security challenges.

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What they’re saying

“I just did what I thought was right. I want everybody to have enough food but … it should also be safe.”

— Huub Lelieveld

“My philosophy was: You should not compete on food safety. Spreading the technology, the hygienic technology, was very important.”

— Huub Lelieveld

What’s next

Lelieveld hopes to see a system where people can produce safe food and water locally, even if the movement of goods across borders is restricted, in order to address persistent challenges for broad access to safe food and water.

The takeaway

Lelieveld's pioneering work on food safety standards has had a profound global impact, preventing millions of cases of foodborne illness and reducing food waste. His commitment to sharing knowledge and promoting international cooperation on food safety regulations has been instrumental in improving public health and food security worldwide.