Natoavina Faliarizao

The 2024 Jogue Inc. Scholarship is awarded to Natoavina Faliarizao from Michigan State University. Originally from Madagascar, Natoavina is currently a graduate student at Michigan State University and has a background in agricultural engineering and food science.

Before studying at Michigan State University, Natoavina worked as a research assistant in France at UMR QualiSud/CIRAD, the French international center for agricultural research in Réunion. His research project was to investigate correlations between the fatty acid profile and volatile aromatic compounds of Bourbon vanilla beans as influenced by agricultural practices using GC-MS-FID and HS-GC-MS.

Natoavina’s passion for science and technology is solving the complexities of the foods we consume and improving their quality, nutritional value and safety.  He looks forward to working in research and development and participating in projects in the field of analytical chemistry and food microbiology.  His main interests include improving the food quality and microbial safety of spices and low-moisture ingredients such as vanilla and red chili peppers.

His current project at Michigan State University investigates novel drying technologies for Salmonella inactivation and quality preservation, polyphenols and antioxidants in chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) by combining food microbiology, mathematical modeling and analytical chemistry.

Natoavina hopes to strengthen and enrich his scientific knowledge and practical experiences to make a difference by developing appropriate control measures for foodborne pathogens to preserve the quality and safety of food.  His goal is to become a researcher with expertise in food engineering and quality assurance of low-moisture foods and ingredients.