Media Release Archive - 2016

Bruce Campbell honoured by Royal Society of New Zealand

24 November 2016

Congratulations to Dr Bruce Campbell, Chief Operating Officer of Plant & Food Research, on being awarded the prestigious Thomson Medal for 2016.

Breakthrough for the bees

22 November 2016

Preliminary results from a pilot study indicate that a breakthrough has been made in the fight against a serious honey bee pathogen.

Familiarity breeds versatility

21 November 2016

New research suggests that familiarity with a particular food or drink increases the perceived suitability of that product for different situations.

Fonterra wins Innovation in Food & Beverage award

21 October 2016

Fonterra has taken out the top prize for Innovation in Food & Beverage, sponsored by Plant & Food Research, at this year's New Zealand Innovation Awards.

Big future for bright spud

14 October 2016

There is a new bright-skinned beauty in the potato patch that scrubs up well and is set to cause a bit of a stir.

Targeting foods to the Chinese consumer

11 October 2016

A new research programme will look at the factors - attitudes, behaviours and lifestyles - that motivate Chinese consumers to buy foods that improve their health and wellness, allowing New Zealand companies to create new products that appeal to the market

Supreme success at AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards

6 October 2016

Plant & Food Research was the Supreme Award winner, and category winner of the Drake New Zealand Government category, at the 2016 AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards.

New funding shows big support for primary industries

20 September 2016

Plant & Food Research has been awarded more than $30 million in funding for four projects as part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment's Endeavour Fund.

Trialling new taro treatment for better biosecurity

13 September 2016

Scientists from Plant & Food Research have been trialling a specially engineered high-pressure washing machine for taro to help reduce the chances of invasive species entering New Zealand.

Staying on top of the fruit fly threat

9 September 2016

Plant & Food Research and Better Border Biosecurity (B3) are hosting scientists and biosecurity operatives from Australia.

Lincoln Hub to play an important role in agricultural eco-system

8 September 2016

Facilitating innovation in the agricultural sector is crucial if the industry is to meet the challenge of safeguarding New Zealand's global competitiveness in the future.

New kiwi foods headed for global stage

7 September 2016

Finalists in the New Zealand Innovation Awards have been announced, including eight in the Food & Beverage category sponsored by Plant & Food Research.

Fresh Facts goes mobile

16 August 2016

Fresh Facts, the annual statistics resource for the horticulture industry, is now available as an app for mobile devices.

Boysenberries may be of benefit to asthma sufferers

25 July 2016

New research suggests that regular Boysenberry consumption may improve lung function by reducing symptoms associated with inflammation of the airways, which can cause conditions such as asthma.

Going in to bat for the bees

24 June 2016

Almost thirty years of apiculture research have seen Dr Mark Goodwin recognised with the inaugural Peter Molan Award.

Plant & Food Research named as finalist for AUT Business School Excellence in Business Support Awards

22 June 2016

For the second year running, Plant & Food Research has been selected as a finalist in the Drake NZ Government category of the AUT Business School Excellence in Business Support Awards.

Plant & Food Research announce new sponsorship of Innovation Awards

20 June 2016

Plant & Food Research is pleased to announce its new sponsorship of the Innovation in Food & Beverage category of the New Zealand Innovation Awards.

New study finds bitter plant extract suppresses food intake

10 June 2016

New research presented at the European Obesity Summit in Gothenburg shows that a New Zealand produced bitter plant extract supressed the food intake of clinical trial participants.

Plant & Food Research host Primary Industry Officials

20 May 2016

Primary industries Ministers and representatives from New Zealand and Australia toured Plant & Food Research's Mt Albert site yesterday as part of the Agriculture Ministers' Forum (AGMIN).

Curious minds and the science of the spud

19 May 2016

The potato may not be the obvious choice as a means of inspiring young minds about science, but that's precisely the point for Plant & Food Research soil scientist Dr Trish Fraser.

Building the health capabilities of berries

17 May 2016

Science and business strategies for developing the health-promoting benefits of berry fruits was a key theme at a workshop held this month between representatives of Plant & Food Research and the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC).

Better drainage, more pasture: new guides help West Coast farmers

17 May 2016

Two new guides will help West Coast farmers improve pasture production through better drainage and fertiliser use.

Dr Paul Blatchford awarded Emerging Researcher Grant

11 May 2016

Dr Paul Blatchford has been awarded an Emerging Researcher Grant by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) to examine how bacteria and microorganisms in the gut may be improved using enteral nutrition and curcumin.

'Fresh Facts' shows export growth for New Zealand horticulture

29 April 2016

New Zealand's horticulture sector remains a stand out success within the primary industries with strong growth according to the latest edition of 'Fresh Facts'.

Climate change strategies for primary sector

27 April 2016

Plant & Food Research to host a workshop with primary sector scientists and business leaders to discuss climate change strategies.

Front footing pest and disease risk in Kiwifruit

26 April 2016

New joint New Zealand-China research partnership aims to enhance food security thanks to science investment from The Catalyst Fund.

New study increases health evidence for kiwifruit consumption

14 April 2016

New research conducted by Plant & Food Research has found that consumption of Zespri Kiwifruit may significantly slow and reduce the uptake of sugars into the bloodstream.

Launching a fishing revolution

25 February 2016

Tiaki is the latest development of Precision Seafood Harvesting, a Primary Growth Partnership between MPI and commercial fishing companies, Sanford, Sealord and Aotearoa Fisheries with Plant & Food Research as its research partner.

Contribution to crop research recognised

28 January 2016

Plant & Food Research's Dr Stuart Tustin has been named the 2016 recipient of the Joe Bell Trophy by the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrower's Association for service to the industry.