We are proud to present this year’s ICC Awards, which will be celebrated at the ICC2025 Jubilee Conference, honouring individuals whose leadership, service, and scientific achievements have significantly advanced cereal science and the mission of ICC. The awards recognise both long-standing commitment to the association and outstanding scientific and professional contributions on a global scale.​

The ICC Friedrich Schweitzer Medal is awarded to Jaan Perten in recognition of his distinguished service in furthering ICC’s aims and ideals over several decades. As successor to his father, Harald Perten, he assumed the presidency of the Harald Perten Foundation in 1992 and has since chaired its board with great conscientiousness, guiding its support for cereal science worldwide. Under his leadership, the Foundation has continuously supported the Harald Perten Prize for outstanding achievements in cereal science and technology—particularly in the fields of starch, gluten, and enzymes—provided numerous scholarships for promising scientists, and regularly funded ICC activities, thereby strengthening the association’s mission and global reach. Beyond the Foundation, Jaan Perten also led the Harald Perten Company, offering substantial support to ICC through personal engagement, sponsorship, and active encouragement of staff participation in ICC committees and conferences.​

The ICC Fellowship Awards this year highlight three outstanding scientists whose work and leadership have advanced cereal science and its impact on health, policy, and sustainability.

• • Prof. Eleanor Beck (UNSW Sydney, Australia) is recognised for exceptional contributions to whole grain science and policy, including leadership roles such as chairing the Whole Grain Initiative’s Dietary Recommendation Group and active involvement in international definition work, including ISO, while her innovative teaching and public health engagement foster new expertise in whole grains.
  • Assoc. Prof. Alessandra Marti (Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy) is celebrated for transformative research in cereal science and technology, advancing understanding of grain quality, gluten-free systems, and the structural and nutritional optimisation of grain-based foods, with strong implications for product sustainability and health impact worldwide.
  • Martijn Noort (Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands) is honoured for significant applied research and project leadership, particularly in the sustainable reformulation of bakery products and the development of climate-resilient foods, as well as for extensive international collaboration with industry and organisations such as WHO and FAO in support of ICC’s mission.​

Warm congratulations go to all awardees for their remarkable contributions to cereal science and to the ICC community. Sincere thanks are also extended to the honorary speakers Meinolf Georg Lindhauer, Jan Willem Van Der Kamp, Hamit Koksel, and Bertrand Matthäus, whose insightful laudations highlighted the awardees’ achievements and enriched the celebrations at the ICC Jubilee Conference.