News
Birgit Loos new Managing Director Food Safety Research
The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has appointed Birgit Loos as Managing Director Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) as of 1 January 2023. She succeeds Robert van Gorcom who is retiring. Loos is currently head of the Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Care at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
The Board is very pleased with the appointment of the new Managing Director. Sjoukje Heimovaara, President of the Executive Board WUR, said "Birgit Loos brings extensive experience and knowledge in the field of nutrition, lifestyle and food safety. For the research on safe and reliable food within Wageningen Food Safety Research, she can make an important contribution."
Loos is pleased with the appointment: "Safe food is something everyone should be able to rely on, even in times of major societal transitions. WUR makes an important contribution to this through its interdisciplinary approach to issues and the quality of knowledge. I am looking forward to a wonderful challenge, and at the same time it feels a bit like coming home".
Birgit Loos studied Plant Breeding at Wageningen University and obtained her PhD at the Centre for Genetic Resources Netherlands in 1994. After her PhD, she worked in environmental consultancy for several years. She started her career at RIVM as department head of Biotechnology, became deputy centre head of the former Centre for Environmental Monitoring. From 2013, Birgit Loos was head of the Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health and then head of the Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Care.