Verleihung der Saare-Medaille

Beide geehrten Wissenschaftler haben sich nicht nur in ihren jeweiligen Fachgebieten, sondern auch um die AGF durch langjähriges Mitwirken bei der Programmgestaltung und der Durchführung der Stärke-Tagung verdient gemacht.

Die Saare-Medaille als Wissenschaftspreis wurde im Jahre 1954 von der AGF zur Anerkennung herausragender Leistungen in der Stärkeforschung und der Stärketechnologie gestiftet. Benannt ist sie nach Prof. Dr. phil. Oskar Saare (1854–1903), dem ehemaligen Leiter der Abteilung Stärke-, Stärkezucker- und Dextrinfabrikation des Institutes für Gärungsgewerbe in Berlin. Er leistete seinerzeit durch seine umfangreiche wissenschaftliche Tätigkeit einen entscheidenden Beitrag zur Modernisierung und Ratinalisierung der Stärkefabrikation in Deutschland.

Welche Leistungen die beiden Geehrten im Sinne des Stiftungszweckes der Medaille erbracht haben, ist den beiden nachfolgend wiedergegebenen Würdigungen ihres jeweiligen Schaffens zu entnehmen. Die Laudatio auf Herrn Dijkhuizen hielt Herr Dr. Maurice Essers von der Wageningen Food & Biobased Research (Wageningen University), Niederlande, die auf Herrn Wastyn Frau Dr. Renate Weiß vom Agrana Research & Innovation Center in Tulln, Österreich.

Laudatio für Prof. Dr. em. Lubbert Dijkhuizen

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure and honor to speak today in recognition of an exceptional scientist and an inspiring person: Lubbert Dijkhuizen.

When reflecting on an academic career, we often turn first to numbers; publications, citations, patents. And indeed, his record is remarkable: hundreds (500) of scientific papers, dozens of patents, and an impact that is both deep and wide. But numbers alone do not capture all the significance of his work.

Because his greatest contribution is, without doubt, the scientific community and people.

No fewer than eighty PhD students completed their doctoral journeys under his supervision. Eighty individuals, each shaped not only by his scientific insight, but also by his guidance, his trust, and his ability to give them the freedom to grow. Add to this the lectures to students about bio catalysis, enzymology and carbohydrate chemistry, the many postdoctoral researchers he mentored, and it becomes clear that his legacy lives on in a global network of scientists.

Mr. Dijkhuizen has also been a builder of institutions, of collaborations, of scientific communities. As Scientific Director of the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, he led an organization of around 25 professors and 250 researchers. Under his leadership, it became a thriving environment where disciplines connected and innovation could flourish.

Equally impressive was his role as Director of the Carbohydrate Competence Center. Bringing together five universities and medical centers with twenty industrial partners, he helped initiate and manage large-scale research programs. This was not only about science, it was about vision, about bridging academia and industry, and about turning knowledge into impact.

And then came what many would call retirement.

But for mr. Dijkhuizen, it marked a new beginning. In 2018, he founded CarbExplore, an independent company built without external investors, fully dedicated to carbohydrate science. Through contract research, structural analysis, and product development in food and personal care, he continues to translate fundamental science into real-world applications. It is a powerful example of lifelong scientific curiosity and entrepreneurship.

His achievements have been widely recognized. He received the Wubbo Ockels Research Award, was knighted in the Order of the Dutch Lion by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. These distinctions reflect not only his scientific excellence, but also his broader contributions to society.

Beyond science, Mr. Dijkhuizen has also shown strong societal engagement. Through his active involvement in Rotary, including leadership roles, he has contributed to numerous charitable initiatives. And as a board member of the Royal Physical Society, he continues to support the connection between science and society.

What truly defines him is a rare combination: depth and breadth, vision and execution, scientific excellence and human connection. He is someone who not only advances knowledge, but also builds the frameworks in which knowledge can grow, through people, through collaboration, and through innovation.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is more than fitting that we take this moment to honour his contributions with the Saare Medal.

Lubbert, on behalf of all of us: thank you for your leadership, your inspiration, and your enduring curiosity.

Thank you.

Laudatio für Dr. Marnik Michel Wastyn

Ladies and Gentlemen,

today, we have the great honour of recognising a scientist whose career has shaped the field of starch research for more than three decades. We gather to pay tribute to a man whose work has not only advanced science, but whose vision, persistence, and intellectual curiosity have continuously transformed starch from a traditional raw material into a platform for innovation.

It is my privilege to present this laudation for Dr. Marnik Michel Wastyn.

Dr. Wastyn’s scientific journey began with a strong foundation in natural sciences. After completing his secondary education in Belgium, he continued his academic path in biology and later in biochemistry at the University of Vienna, where he earned both his diploma and doctoral degree. These early years laid the groundwork for what would become an extraordinary career dedicated to applied research, technological development, and industrial innovation.

In 1989, Dr. Wastyn joined Raiffeisen Bioforschung in Tulln as a group leader. At that time, the institution’s name and primary focus were still closely associated with sugar. However, even in those early years, Dr. Wastyn was already looking beyond conventional boundaries. He recognised the vast, largely untapped potential of starch and its side streams. Long before sustainability became an established guiding principle, he was investigating alternative uses of by-products from starch processing and exploring new raw materials.

This early phase of his work was characterised by pioneering spirit and scientific discipline. Research was still documented by hand, experimental data carefully recorded, and graphs meticulously drawn on graph paper. Yet even under these conditions, Dr. Wastyn pursued ambitious goals, including early investigations into plant protein extraction from various raw materials. These efforts reflect a central theme of his career: scientific progress driven by curiosity, practicality, and long-term industrial relevance.

In 1998, Dr. Wastyn assumed leadership of the starch technology department. This role placed him at the forefront of starch innovation in Europe, particularly in the rapidly evolving non-food sector. Over the next five years, he led developments in starch-based adhesives, flocculants, binders, and coating systems. Under his direction, starch was no longer seen merely as a commodity, but as a highly adaptable functional material with applications reaching far beyond traditional markets.

This period was marked by intense innovation and close collaboration with universities and industrial partners. Dr. Wastyn created an environment in which scientific excellence and industrial applicability were not seen as opposites, but as complementary objectives. Many of the concepts developed during this time remain fundamental to modern industrial starch applications.

In recognition of his scientific leadership and his remarkable achievements, Dr. Wastyn was appointed Head of Research at Zuckerforschung Tulln in 2003. In this position, he further sharpened the strategic direction of starch research within Agrana. His focus increasingly shifted toward future-oriented solutions, most notably the development of waxy raw materials with improved functional properties. These innovations strengthened Agrana’s technological position and opened new possibilities for tailored starch applications.

Under his leadership, the research centre expanded steadily – not only in size, but in scientific depth and international relevance. Dr. Wastyn combined strategic foresight with scientific rigor, ensuring that research addressed both immediate industrial needs and long-term technological challenges.

A further milestone was reached in 2008, when Dr. Wastyn was appointed Managing Director of the Agrana Research and Innovation Center. In this role, he assumed responsibility not only for scientific excellence, but also for guiding innovation across organisational and disciplinary boundaries. Over the years, a remarkable number of developments and patent applications emerged under his leadership. His influence is reflected in an impressive portfolio of 195 patent applications and 29 scientific and popular science publications – a testament to both the width and depth of his contribution to starch science.

Yet Dr. Wastyn’s impact extends far beyond his own organisation. For more than two decades, he has been a dedicated contributor to the international starch community. Between 1999 and 2022, he participated in the Detmold Starch Conference no fewer than twenty-two times and served for fifteen years on its expert committee. In this capacity, he actively shaped scientific exchange within the starch research community and presented key results from industrial starch research carried out under his guidance.

His presentations in Detmold addressed a wide range of topics, from variety-specific starch extraction and the influence of raw materials, to innovative applications of chemically modified starches in construction materials and emulsion paints, as well as the valorisation of by-products from corn starch processing. Together, these contributions illustrate Dr. Wastyn’s ability to link fundamental understanding with industrial relevance — a hallmark of his work.

What truly distinguishes Dr. Wastyn, however, is not only the scale of his achievements, but their enduring impact. Over more than 35 years, he has helped redefine how starch is perceived – transforming it into a versatile, forward-looking material that plays a crucial role in modern industry. His knowledge, accumulated over decades, is invaluable, and his influence continues through the people he has mentored, the technologies he has initiated, and the scientific culture he has helped to establish.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dr. Marnik Michel Wastyn represents the very best of applied science: rigorous, innovative, and deeply committed to making research matter. His career stands as an exemplary contribution to starch research and innovation, and it is fitting that his achievements are recognized at the highest level.

It is with great respect and sincere admiration that we honour Dr. Marnik Michel Wastyn for his outstanding contributions to the field of starch.