Dr. Daphna Havkin Frenkel passed away on March 10th, 2026 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was deeply grateful for the tremendous support she received—not only from her family and friends, but also from her professional community.
For more than three decades, Dr. Frenkel had the privilege of working at the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and flavor.
Her journey began with her studies in agriculture and food science at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she went on to earn a Ph.D. in Food Science and Biotechnology. She later completed an Executive MBA from Rutgers University.
Very early in her career, she focused on vanilla.
Vanilla is often described as “plain,” but as Dr. Frenkel demonstrated throughout her life’s work, it is anything but. It is one of the most complex flavors in nature—an intersection of botany, chemistry, agriculture, and global culture. The vanilla orchid itself is delicate and demanding, requiring human care at every stage, from pollination to curing.
Her professional path led her to become one of the world’s foremost experts on the subject.
At David Michael & Co., she led the BioVan Group, exploring the biotechnology and chemistry behind natural flavor development. She later founded Bakto Flavors with a clear vision: to bring scientific rigor, transparency, and integrity to the world of natural flavors—especially vanilla.
She also believed that the same level of quality used by the food industry should be accessible to every kitchen.
One of the most meaningful parts of her career was bringing together the global community around vanilla.
In 2003, she organized the first international vanilla conference in Princeton, New Jersey. What began as a small gathering of scientists and industry professionals grew into a global meeting point for researchers, growers, flavor companies, and agricultural experts.
Over the next two and a half decades, Bakto Flavors organized more than a dozen conferences on vanilla, as well as workshops and meetings on natural preservatives.
Participants traveled from around the world—including Madagascar, across Asia, Europe, and Latin America—to share knowledge on cultivation, curing, sustainability, and the future of the vanilla industry.
Mentoring students was another deeply meaningful part of her life. She worked with many young scientists who went on to build their own paths in food science and the flavor industry.
Those who knew Dr. Frenkel knew she had a larger-than-life personality and strong convictions. She believed deeply in standing for truth, scientific rigor, and respect for the remarkable plant that shaped her life’s work.
Her greatest accomplishment was the three sons she leaves behind—Jonathan “Yoni” Frenkel, Guy Frenkel, and Ari Frenkel—who grew into remarkable men and stood by her until the very end.
She is remembered with gratitude for a life devoted to science, to standing up for what was right, and to the extraordinary story of vanilla.