Indiana's New Science Prize Honors Drink Box Creator

The new Dr. Philip E. Nelson Innovation Prize is named in honor of the distinguished Purdue University scientist who was awarded the 2007 World Food Prize in October for his achievements in the field of food processing.

Dr. Nelson is credited with developing the aseptic process to store fruits and vegetables in triple-layer sealed boxes to prevent post-harvest spoilage.

Nelson developed the "bag in a box" technology to process large quantities of seasonal crops such as tomatoes and oranges for long-term storage and bulk transportation without losing nutritional value or taste.

The packaged products can be stored over long periods of time at normal room temperatures without preservatives.

Aseptic packages, also known as drink boxes, most often contain single-serve beverages, although a wide variety of aseptically-packaged food products now are available.

The box walls are made of thin layers of paper, plastic, and aluminum that form a compact, lightweight beverage and liquid foods container tough enough for children and active adults.

Dr. Philip Nelson of Purdue University (Photo courtesy Purdue )

In 1991 the Institute of Food Technologists rated aseptic processing and packaging as the No. 1 innovation in food technology, ahead of juice concentrates, safe canning processes, freeze drying and food fortification.

Nelson's award-winning innovations are present in nearly every country world in the world and have had a positive impact on the world food supply.

During his more than 45 years at Purdue, Nelson was the university's first department head of food science and now is the Scholle Chair Professor in Food Processing.

"The great scientist or inventor does far more to improve people's lives than the politicians, business leaders or entertainers who dominate the headlines," said Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, announcing the creation of the prize earlier this month.

The governor said the Nelson Innovation Prize will recognize an Indiana scientist whose work goes beyond pure scientific research and leads to the creation of products or processes that revolutionize industry, inspire further scientific inquiry, and improve the quality of life.

Recipients will be scientists with a unique combination of intellectual curiosity, scientific expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit. "It's time we lifted up and honored those Hoosiers whose scientific achievements will make us the great state we intend to be," he said.

The prize will come with a cash award of $5,000, funded by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Foundation. A panel of Indiana scientific researchers and entrepreneurs will work with the foundation to establish the selection criteria for the prize.

"Dr. Nelson's work has transformed the global food industry and has allowed entrepreneurs to build successful businesses that use crops raised by farmers," said Purdue President France A. Córdova. "He is an outstanding example of the power of a university to turn discovery into benefits for others."

The $250,000 award has been presented annually since 1986, when Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug created it. He envisioned it as agriculture's Nobel Prize equivalent. Nelson is the first winner cited for work in the post production area of agricultural research.

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