Media Release Archive - 2013
How onions recognise when to bulb
3 December 2013
New research will help to breed new onions tailored to grow in specific conditions.
Natural compounds that keep the gut healthy
13 November 2013
Research suggests that compounds in fruits and vegetables help us stay healthy by supporting the natural beneficial microorganisms in our gut that help us digest food and keep our bodies in balance.
Food scientist named Adjunct Professor
7 November 2013
Plant & Food Research scientist Dr Roger Hurst has been appointed Adjunct Professor at Massey University.
New move against Queensland fruit fly
7 November 2013
Plant & Food Research is partnering with Horticulture Australia Ltd, CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship and the South Australian State Government to undertake a pre-emptive strike on the Queensland fruit fly.
New funding for plant science
29 October 2013
Plant & Food Research has received funding for two projects in the latest Marsden fund which will study how plants grow and adapt, fundamental science that will ultimately inform future crop breeding and growing practices.
Plant & Food Research Innovation Recognised
18 October 2013
Plant & Food Research had two reasons to celebrate at last nights New Zealand Innovators Awards held at Auckland Museum.
Scientist recognised for relationship with China
17 October 2013
Dr Ian Ferguson has been recognised by the government of China with their premier award for foreigners, the National Friendship Award - the only New Zealander to receive this honour in 2013.
Revolutionary new sustainable fishing technology unveiled
1 October 2013
Imagine if every fish landed on a trawler was alive, in perfect condition and small fish, sharks and other species could be safely released underwater before a catch was lifted on-board.
Plant & Food Research Appoints New Chief Scientist
11 September 2013
Leading New Zealand research scientist, Dr Richard Newcomb, has been appointed as the new Chief Scientist at The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research.
$130 million of new funding to support agricultural industry
3 September 2013
In the latest round of MBIE funding, the five partners in the Lincoln Hub - AgResearch, DairyNZ, Landcare Research, Lincoln University and Plant & Food Research - secured grants totalling $133 million for 21 new research projects.
Marine Extracts Earns Nod from Government
2 September 2013
Among the 51 new government-funded research programmes announced this week, one is of particular interest to Nelson-based seafood researchers and has the potential to add significant value to New Zealand's seafood exports.
Health and wealth key themes for new research funding
28 August 2013
Foods for health and the growth of New Zealand's horticultural exports are the key focus of Plant & Food Research's new Government funded research programmes announced by Minister Joyce earlier today.
American Chamber of Commerce recognises raspberry programme
9 August 2013
A collaboration between a major US berryfruit producer and plant scientists in New Zealand has been recognised as an outstanding example of commercialisation by the American Chamber of Commerce.
The genetics of smell
2 August 2013
Research suggests that we all smell different smells thanks to our genes.
New Zealand's $60b answer
29 July 2013
New Zealand's first food super-campus will be the focus of FoodHQ, a research collaboration that aims to enable the nation's food exports to reach $60 billion by 2025.
Researching the Psa family tree creates new tools to breed for resistance
26 July 2013
A team of researchers from four countries have analysed the DNA of the kiwifruit disease Psa to identify its origins and develop new ways of breeding for resistance against it.
New Director of Joint Graduate School in Plant and Food Science
16 July 2013
Associate Professor Andrew Allan, an expert in plant molecular physiology, has been appointed the new Director of the Joint Graduate School in Plant and Food Science.
Increasing interactions with the USA
4 July 2013
Two members of Plant & Food Research staff have been recognised by Fulbright New Zealand with awards designed to encourage educational and cultural exchange with the USA.
Blackcurrants to help clear the mind
7 May 2013
A new study has shown that an extract of New Zealand blackcurrants enriched in anthocyanins can help people stay more alert, reduce mental fatigue and work with greater accuracy whilst under significant mental stress.
Reducing rubbish by feeding the soil
1 May 2013
Research has shown that everyday kitchen scraps and garden waste can be used to increase the production of farmers' crops and reduce their need for conventional fertilisers.
Enhancing the value of Vietnamese Dragon fruit
22 April 2013
Following the recent success working with fodder crops in Nepal, Plant & Food Research is set to begin collaborating on a new New Zealand Aid Programme funded 5-year project in Viet Nam.
'Fresh Facts' Shows Growth for NZ Horticulture
19 April 2013
New Zealand's horticulture sector continues to grow in spite of recent biological and economic challenges according to the latest edition of 'Fresh Facts'.
Wanted dead or alive: bumblebee nests in the Waikato
6 March 2013
Scientists at Plant & Food Research are looking at where bumblebees like to nest - research that could provide valuable insight for pollinating crops in the Waikato region and beyond.
Meat and three veg diet may offer more than first thought
9 January 2013
New study may offer hope to those who love red meat but worry about the effect it may have on their gut, discovering more about the role vegetables may play in promoting healthy digestion of that next steak.