The Board and staff of the Foundation for Arable Research are delighted to congratulate FAR CEO, Alison Stewart, on her appointment as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

This Honour, which recognises her pre-eminent contribution to plant science and the arable sector, is well deserved and recognises years of commitment. It seems fitting that it is announced just a few weeks before she steps down from her role with FAR.

In response to the appointment, Professor Stewart, whose full title is Emeritus Distinguished Professor, says she is absolutely thrilled.

“It seems redundant to say it, but it really is a great honour. And it’s an honour I’m pleased to share with the plant science community and the arable sector, both huge, but often unrecognised contributors to New Zealand’s agriculture and horticulture industries.

“I’ve been involved with plant science and plant pathology for my whole working career, with the shift to arable coming about when I joined FAR in 2018. Working in the arable industry has been an absolute pleasure and privilege. The sector is an exemplar of a sustainable and resilient farming system, and we should be really proud of it.”

Dame Alison was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of services to biology in 2009. Other career honours and achievements include:

• PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Stirling (1984)
• First female Professor at Lincoln University (1998)
• Bayer – NZ Innovators Award (2012)
• Founding Director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University (2003-2011)
• AgResearch Technology Transfer Award (2002)
• Agricom Significant Achievement Award for Research Excellence (2001)
• MAFBNZ Biosecurity Award for Excellence (2008)
• Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology, Lincoln University (2011)
• Fellow of the NZ Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Science (2006)
• Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society (2011)
• Lincoln University, Excellence in Rersearch Award (1997)

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