The latest news from Plant & Food Research, New Zealand http://www.plantandfood.co.nz en-nz Copyright © 2012 The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd A close up of the lupulin glands of a mature female hop flower. Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/photodesk/photo/bubbles-of-flavour/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/photodesk/photo/bubbles-of-flavour/ Dr Mark Goodwin talks about the importance bees and pollination have on our lives. Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/video-index/video/pollination/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/video-index/video/pollination/ New Zealands horticulture industry now accounts for $1 in every $13 of exports, with an annual value of close to $3.5 billion. Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/new-zealand-horticulture-exports-close-to-35-billion/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/new-zealand-horticulture-exports-close-to-35-billion/ Demand for berryfruit with high levels of health-promoting antioxidants is causing a global expansion in the berry industry. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/video-index/video/Rubus-berry-breeding-programme/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/video-index/video/Rubus-berry-breeding-programme/ Ian Ferguson, Chief Scientist at Plant & Food Research, has been appointed as one of three new members of the Marsden Fund Council. The Council is responsible for deciding the allocation of contestable funding for fundamental research on behalf of the New Zealand government, and Dr Ferguson will convene the Cellular, Molecular and Physiological Biology Panel. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#chief-scientist-appointed-to-marsden-council http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#chief-scientist-appointed-to-marsden-council Plant & Food Research has signed a new agreement with Massey University to provide funding and resources in support of three postgraduate students undertaking research with ornamental crops. This research, co-led by Dr Keith Funnell at Plant & Food and Dr David Woolley at Massey, will contribute to an understanding of branching, colour and other desired traits to support the breeding of new varieties of ornamental plants and flowers, as well as technologies to improve yield and quality of ornamental plant species. New Zealand exports $41 million of cut flowers and ornamental plants each year (Fresh Facts 2010). Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#research-agreement-to-develop-new-ornamental-varieties http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#research-agreement-to-develop-new-ornamental-varieties In the future, it may be possible to get your daily dose of vitamin C from just one potato. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/daily-potato-for-all-your-vitamin-c-needs/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/daily-potato-for-all-your-vitamin-c-needs/ Broccoli and blueberries may have positive effects for those suffering with digestive problems, new research suggests. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/broccoli-and-blueberry-may-improve-gut-health/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/broccoli-and-blueberry-may-improve-gut-health/ Plant & Food Research has strengthened its commitment to the seafood industry with the establishment of a new science Portfolio focused on seafood research. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/new-seafood-research-group-for-plant-and-food-research/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/new-seafood-research-group-for-plant-and-food-research/ An expanded breeding programme will result in new varieties of wheat and barley being made available for New Zealand growers, delivering high yields and improved resistance to disease. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/new-wheat-cultivars-anticipated-from-cereal-breeding-partnership/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/new-wheat-cultivars-anticipated-from-cereal-breeding-partnership/ A new tool is set to help the wine industry more accurately train staff to make visual estimates about the severity of bunch rot among the vines. The Bunch Rot Assessment Trainer or BRAT  is a Visual Estimation Tool  developed by the Disease Risk Management Team, in partnership with HortPlus, and is online at www.bunchrot.co.nz Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#bunch-rot-tool-now-online http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#bunch-rot-tool-now-online Adding gold kiwifruit to your diet may lead to less suffering from symptoms of common illnesses such as colds, research suggests. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/gold-kiwifruit-each-day-reduce-cold-symptoms/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/media-release/story/gold-kiwifruit-each-day-reduce-cold-symptoms/ Dr David Pattemore, a pollination scientist at Plant & Food Researchs Ruakura site, talks about his career. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/video-index/video/david-pattemore-pollination/ http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/video-index/video/david-pattemore-pollination/ Plant & Food Research has launched a new website for the New Zealand Food Composition Database, the largest and most comprehensive collection of nutrient data in New Zealand. The database provides up-to-date nutrient values for foods commonly consumed in New Zealand. Food and nutrient data is available for a range of uses including dietary assessment, nutrition surveys and research, development of nutrition policies and guidelines, product analyses and labelling, and nutrition claims. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#new-website-for-food-composition-database http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#new-website-for-food-composition-database The Australian Federal Government has announced funding for a Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, of which Plant and Food Research will be a significant member.  The CRC will have a life of 6 years and continues the good work of The Australian Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity. The new CRC will undertake research to develop new knowledge and tools to assist in protection from, and minimisation of the damage from, damaging pest incursions. Plant & Food Research’s  membership of the new CRC will create strong collaborative links between Australian and New Zealand biosecurity networks and associated research. Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#australian-centre-for-national-plant-biosecurity-successful-funding http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/#australian-centre-for-national-plant-biosecurity-successful-funding