Prof C Hanny Wijaya Becomes First Woman to Receive ISNFF Fellow Award, Prestigious Award in the World of Functional Foods

Professor Christofora Hanny Wijaya, Chairperson of the Department of Food Science and Technology (ITP) at IPB University, received the ISNFF Fellow Award, a prestigious award presented by the International Society for Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (ISNFF) in Vietnam on September 17, 2025.

The ISNFF Fellow Award is a prestigious honor given only to living individuals with exceptional qualifications and experience for their comprehensive contributions in the field of functional foods and nutraceuticals.

To be considered, a candidate must have been active in ISNFF for at least 10 years and have a track record of research contributions and service to the international organization.

“This is a prestigious award at the global level, and I feel very honored and challenged to live up to the trust that has been placed in me. I just realized that I am the first woman to receive this award,” she said.

The award has further motivated Prof Hanny to contribute more to the field of functional foods and nutraceuticals. 

“I don’t want to embarrass Indonesia. I will try to live up to the trust that the world has placed in me as a driving force, researcher, and scientist in the field of functional foods and nutraceuticals,” said the innovator of Cajuput® Candy.

In an interview with the IPB Today team (9/29), Prof Hanny said that her interest in functional foods began during her postgraduate studies (master’s and doctoral degrees) in Japan, when research in this field was rapidly developing. 

She studied bioactive compounds in onions that have the potential to improve health. “I began to delve into bioactive components for functional foods that could also be used as nutraceuticals,” she said.

As one of the initiators of the Indonesian Functional Food and Nutraceutical Association (P3FNI), Prof Hanny hopes that the award she has just received will strengthen Indonesia’s position on the global stage.

“My hope is that Indonesia will not only be a consumer but also a beacon in the development of functional foods. We have extraordinary biodiversity and local wisdom that must continue to be explored and preserved so they do not disappear,” he said. (MHT) (IAAS/LAN)