The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited

The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited

Research Services

A smart green future. Together.

About us

At Plant & Food Research, we believe science can create a better future. By finding smarter, greener options today. We’re helping secure the world we want to live in tomorrow. With our partners, we use world-leading science to improve the way they grow, fish, harvest and share food. Every day, we have 1000 people working across Aotearoa New Zealand and the world to help deliver healthy foods from the world’s most sustainable systems. New fruits, better grains, less chemicals, stronger biosecurity, higher yields, great nutrition, reduce waste. We answer complex biological questions; we design innovative products and technologies; and we look over the horizon for new ways to make a smart green future.

Website
http://www.plantandfood.co.nz
Industry
Research Services
Company size
501-1,000 employees
Headquarters
Auckland
Type
Government Agency
Founded
2008
Specialties
plant breeding, bioprotection, functional foods, postharvest, plant genomics, plant pathlogy, apiculture, viticulture, environmental management, entomology, water management, soil science, seafood, food innovation, and sustainable production

Locations

Employees at The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited

Updates

  • Yesterday at Te Whenua Tupu, the Living Lab, we had the honour of hosting Minister Hon David Seymour. This visit highlighted the cutting-edge research happening in Marlborough, where we explore how environmental changes, above and below the surface, impact plant growth. It’s all part of our commitment to delivering world-class science that supports a sustainable and resilient future. 🌱 Owned by the Marlborough Research Centre Trust and located at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) Blenheim campus, Te Whenua Tupu the Living Lab's experimental facilities are managed by Plant & Food Research. #plantandfood #thelivinglab

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  • 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 & 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 Are you ready to lead a talented creative team and shape the identity of one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most innovative science organisations? Plant & Food Research is looking for a Creative Studio & Production Manager to elevate our brand and showcase the impact of our world-leading science. 📍 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau  🔗 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: https://lnkd.in/gHpDeCJW

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  • Cellular agriculture is a groundbreaking technology that allows us to grow animal protein in a lab. At Plant & Food Research, we're applying this innovation to fish, exploring its potential to create sustainable, ethical alternatives to conventional seafood production. In the latest episode of Scigest, scientist Julie Blommaert speaks with fellow scientist Georgina Dowd about her work in cellular agriculture. Together, they discuss the risks, rewards, and the exciting possibilities this technology could unlock for the future of food. 🎧 Listen now to hear how this research, part of our broader fish science programme in Nelson, could help transform the way we produce animal protein https://lnkd.in/gAsFDZTS If you enjoy this episode, please rate and review Scigest! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Your feedback helps others discover the podcast and stay inspired by the science shaping our world. Thank you for your support! 🎧 #plantandfood #scigest #sciencepodcast #cellularagriculture

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  • Prevar™ has launched of GoodnessMe®, a groundbreaking, exceptionally good new apple variety resulting from over 20 years of dedicated research and development, at Interpoma in Italy. GoodnessMe® apples are perfectly suited to their growing environment, featuring double gene scab resistance, tolerance to mildew and European canker, and a natural skin bloom that offers protection against sunburn — all with outstanding taste and visual appeal. “We’re excited to commercialise our first double gene scab resistant apple variety, bred by the world-renowned Plant & Food Research breeding programme in New Zealand and licensed in Europe to Wouters Fruit,” says Tony Martin, Chief Executive of Prevar. European consumers can look forward to enjoying GoodnessMe® apples from 2026. With a naturally crisp texture and refreshing flavour, these apples are the ultimate healthy snack, staying crunchy for longer and delivering quality in every bite. Simple, delicious, and better for you. Officially launched at Interpoma in Italy, representatives from Prevar, Wouters Fruit, and Plant & Food Research introduced GoodnessMe® to interested growers, who were among the first to taste this remarkable new variety. GoodnessMe® joins Prevar’s portfolio of premium apples and pears licensed worldwide, including Rockit™, Joli®, Dazzle™, Sassy™, and PIQA® Pears. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g6KxgJtj

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  • Congratulations to plant molecular biologist Professor Andrew Allan who has been recognised for his world-leading research with the Royal Society Te Apārangi Hutton Medal. “This medal is a testament to Andy’s hard work and dedication over his career,” says Professor Richard Newcomb, Chief Scientist at Plant & Food Research. “His research not only has huge academic impact but is also a major contributor to the success of our breeding programmes. Added to that, he is a wonderful mentor to young researchers, both in New Zealand and around the world. This recognition of his contribution to plant sciences is well deserved.” For more than 35 years, Andrew has worked in the field of plant genomics, building knowledge of the genetic controls of plant characteristics such as fruit colour and health compounds. His research incorporates both model plants used for fundamental research and plants of importance to New Zealand’s food sector such as apple and kiwifruit. This knowledge has been used to inform New Zealand’s fruit breeding programmes, improving efficiency by allowing breeders to select parents and offspring that hold particular genetic traits. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3B28l1B #plantandfood

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  • 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 & 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐩 1% 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 Two plant molecular scientists at Plant & Food Research – Professor Andrew Allan and Dr Richard Espley - have been named in the 2024 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers. This accolade highlights researchers whose work ranks in the top 1% of cited research globally, underscoring its wide-ranging influence and scholarly excellence. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g7C3mMby #plantandfood

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  • 🌍 Unlocking Insights Through Geoinformatics In the latest episode of Scigest, Plant & Food Research Scientist Dion Mundy sits down with Rebecca Campbell to discuss her fascinating journey into geoinformatics—using spatial data to solve real-world challenges. Rebecca also shares how the prestigious Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Science Whitinga Fellowship has shaped her career and supported her research. 🎙️ Listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/g48JYV3R #Geoinformatics #SpatialData #SciencePodcast #ResearchInnovation #WhitingaFellowship

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  • 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘀 🥑 Mission Produce® is a global leader in the worldwide avocado business. It is a vertically integrated company managing orchards in Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, and South Africa, and a global network of forward distribution centres (FDCs) strategically positioned throughout North America, China, Europe, and the UK. The latest FDC at Dartford in the UK was opened in 2023. The 9,500m^2 facility is strategically located near the UK’s largest ports and airports and at the intersection of England’s extensive transportation networks. The facility has been developed to incorporate a new proprietary ripening system termed Mission Control, with ripening technology and management processes designed to deliver consistent product to retailers. The facility has 12 state of the art ripening rooms, with a capacity of 30 pallets each, developed with science and technical input from Plant & Food Research. “Mission Control was designed with a science-based approach to create the optimal environment for ripening,” said Adam Shaw, Technical Director, Mission Produce, UK. “We’ve fine-tuned our controls in collaboration with our strategic partners, who hold a wealth of biological knowledge and technological understanding in our industry. Based on our impressive testing results, we are confident that the technology can promote a more consistent and reliable product and, in turn, enhance our customer relationships.” With the success of phase one of the development, in October 2023 Mission Produce announced a second phase, doubling the number of ripening rooms, along with increased coolstorage and warehouse space, with the new capacity being operational by mid-2024. With Mission Control established at Dartford, the technology is likely to be installed at other Mission Produce FDCs. #plantandfood

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  • While consumers have become familiar with dairy alternatives in the form of almond, oat, soy and coconut, scientists at Plant & Food Research have been exploring what the next generation of plant-based alternatives could look like – with the aim of delivering products and processing systems that have strong sustainability and nutrition credentials. This work has led to the development of Barley Milk and a potential barley yoghurt. Utilising the organisation’s expertise in cultivar development, food formulation, process development and techno-economic analysis, three teams from Plant & Food Research have come up with novel ways to generate a nutrient dense plant-based milk and yoghurt. As part of this, both products use a new barley cultivar developed at Plant & Food Research, which has high amounts of beta-glucan (known to be good for lowering cholesterol), more protein, and good agronomic performance. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gmU3yHS7 #plantandfood #barleymilk

    Barley milk, yoghurt and beyond – the future of plant-based, non-dairy offerings · Plant & Food Research

    Barley milk, yoghurt and beyond – the future of plant-based, non-dairy offerings · Plant & Food Research

    plantandfood.com

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