Nelson, Philip E. (Philip Edwin), 1934-
Dates
- Existence: 1934
Biographical Information
Philip Nelson was born in Shelbyville, Indiana, and graduated from Morristown High School. He earned a BS in Agriculture and a PhD in Horticulture with a specialization in Food Science from Purdue. He became an instructor at Purdue, helped form the Food Sciences Department, and became the William R. Sholle Endowed Chair in Food Processing. Nelson invented aseptic food processing, which became an internationally applied food preservation method. He ran Aseptic Outreach Workshops globally for twenty-five years. He served as president of the Institute of Food Technology which awarded him the Nicholas Appert award. He also received the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Award and the World Food Prize. The Philip E. Nelson Innovation Award was created in his honor.
Nelson’s family ran a farm and canning plant. In high school he won the Tomato Prize and was named the Tomato King at the Indiana State Fair. At Purdue he joined the Glee Club. Nelson’s invention of aseptic food processing led to multiple patents and an international network of food commerce with Pepsico, Tropicana, Kikkoman in Japan, and companies around the world. President Beering asked him to serve as faculty representative on the Big 10 and NCAA Committee.