Bioeconomy Science Institute

🍎 Big win for Tutti™ apple

The world’s first apple bred for hot climates has taken 1st place at the Innovation Hub Awards at #FruitAttraction2025👏
Huge thanks to VentureFruit, IRTA, Fruit Futur, and the Hot Climate Partnership for making it possible.

👉 www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/articl...

New research explores kiwi potential for pest management in horticultural landscapes · Plant & Food Research Research involving Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University and the Bioeconomy Science Institute has uncovered a potential partnershipthe brown kiwi and orchadists and wine makers

Our new research with Massey University shows North Island brown kiwi foraging in kiwifruit orchards, feeding on horticultural pests. Findings suggest kiwi could contribute to natural pest control while benefiting from cultivated habitats.
www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/articl...

Shower Thoughts: Can I increase my spice tolerance? Dr Farhana Pinu from the Bioeconomy Science Institute is here to help answer all of these questions.

#InTheNews Some people can eat ghost peppers like snacks 🌶️🔥 Others… cry over mild curry. Why?
Dr Farhana Pinu explains the science of spice tolerance on RNZ.
🎧 Listen here:www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

“This is a really exciting moment for the Bioeconomy Science Institute. There are clear opportunities to partner with Māori to create impact & drive growth for NZ through the discovery & development of new bio-based products, which this platform will enable,” says our Chief Executive Mark Piper.

Aotearoa’s new $42.8M Biodiscovery Platform will bring together Māori enterprise, researchers & industry to discover bio-based products from our unique flora and fauna.

Big news for Aotearoa’s bioeconomy 🌿 Hon Dr Shane Reti has announced a new $42.8M Biodiscovery Platform, led by the Bioeconomy Science Institute — unlocking innovation from NZ’s unique flora and fauna.
Learn more: bit.ly/4o0LZ3n

We are pleased to announce the appointment of James Stevenson-Wallace as Director Transformation at the Bioeconomy Science Institute.
James will work closely with our CEO and SLT to guide our transformation into a unified organisation, drawing on his leadership experience in the science sector.

$10 million fight to stop Australian species invading New Zealand in just 48 hours Australia's famous 'southerly buster' winds are creating a major threat across the ditch. Find out more.

🦋 Strong winds are blowing Australian moths & butterflies into Aotearoa New Zealand in as little as 48 hrs. Senior entomologist Dr Toni Withers spoke with Yahoo News on how they travel and the risks to our ecosystems. Read more: yhoo.it/4ntwZet

👏 Proud moment for the Bioeconomy Science Institute — one of our buildings is shortlisted for the 2025 Built by Nature Prize!

Located in Lincoln, Tuhiraki is a climate-ready research facility that highlights responsible timber construction and bio-based innovation.

🔗 bit.ly/4o2tETU

#InTheNews Our work on Crop 78 — a new potato variety that makes crispier chips and supports sustainable farming — has been recognised as a KiwiNet Awards finalist! 🥔✨
Read more in Farmers Weekly:bit.ly/3Kq1pjo

🌲 A first for Aotearoa New Zealand’s forests — the new height–diameter model for tōtara (Podocarpus tōtara).

Led by our forest scientist Serajis Salekin and team, this breakthrough fills a long-standing gap, giving forest managers, small-scale growers and others valuable insights.

🔗 tr.ee/g2C8u1

Scientists explore new way to rid land of wilding pines Scientists are hoping a recent 50-hectare controlled burn of wilding conifer pines in Central Otago will help develop new ways to rid land of the pest.

🔥 Our scientists recently supported a 50-hectare controlled burn of wilding pines in Central Otago.

This morning, fire ecologist Shana Gross spoke with RNZ’s Nine to Noon about the burn and what it could mean for future land management.

🔗 tr.ee/0KOJiS

What if NZ pastures could feed people too? 🌱

With Pāmu Landcorp, we’re turning alfalfa & ryegrass into plant protein for human nutrition – complete with all essential amino acids.

Innovation grown right here in Aotearoa. 💚
🔗 www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/articl...

🌱🚗 The Discovery Squad has wrapped up their two-week tour across Aotearoa - connecting with teams, sparking new ideas, and uncovering opportunities for collaboration.

Big thanks to everyone who hosted and shared insights along the way! A few pics from their week two adventures below.

Amarasate · Plant & Food Research Amarasate™ - an extract from a hops cultivar bred and grown in New Zealand – reduced feelings of hunger

We’re so proud to see New Zealand innovation making an impact around the world.
👉 Learn more about the science behind Amarasate®: www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/amaras...

🏆 Congratulations to Calocurb — winners of Exporter of the Year to the USA – Consumer Goods at the 2025 AmCham NZ Awards!

www.amcham.co.nz/2025-Awards

#bioeconomy #upwears #sustainabletextiles #smartmaterials #biomanufacturing #sciongroup #collaboration #innovation #horizoneurope | Florian Graichen Huge credit to Yi Chen for his leadership in driving the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited's contribution to the UPWEARS project, especially around smart functionality, sensor integ...

Huge credit to Yi Chen for his leadership in @bioeconomyscience.bsky.social’s contribution to the UPWEARS project, especially around smart functionality, sensor integration, automation, digitalisation, and additive manufacturing.
#bioeconomy
www.linkedin.com/posts/floria...

Eight of our Bioeconomy Science Institute scientists are on the road! 🚗💨

Over two weeks, the Discovery Squad is connecting, collaborating, and gathering insights at locations nationwide - helping us work even stronger together.

Week 1 highlights 👇

#NewResearch Measuring pollination across crops is tricky — plants, insects & the environment all interact.

Our scientists helped develop a framework that ties entomology + plant physiology together, so researchers can collect the right data to answer big questions.

Read the paper: bit.ly/468uKHs

Ngā mihi to those who spotted it — we accidentally paired a kea image with the Kākā tongue twister! Both are beautiful native parrots, but they’re different species. Thanks for keeping us on our toes.

Ka pai spotting that! You’re absolutely right, that’s a kea — not a kākā.

As part of celebrating te reo Māori this week, we’ve challenged our teams to find fun and creative ways to bring more te reo into the office. Check out these awesome arero whīwhiwhi (tongue twisters) — guaranteed to twist your tongue and lift your reo! #TeWikiOTeReoMāori

📸 Then & now: 100 years of bee research at Ruakura.
The legacy of apiculture science in Aotearoa continues. #BeeAwareMonth

From cadets in 1921 to today’s researchers, Ruakura has been buzzing with apiculture for over a century — and the work continues. 🐝
📷Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19210224-32-04
#BeeResearch #NZScience

🐝 In 1921, Apiary Cadets trained at Ruakura.
100+ years later, our scientists continue to advance apiculture research at Ruakura. #BeeAwareMonth #ApicultureNZ

📷 Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19210224-32-05

At our Tūhiraki labs, our team shared science driving the bioeconomy:
🌱 Bread waste → biodegradable packaging
🦠 Microbial solutions replacing agrichemicals
🛡️ Biosecurity protecting NZ farming
🔬 Molecular screening verifying food quality

We welcomed High Commissioner Iona Thomas & Associate Minister Nicola Grigg to our Lincoln HQ today, alongside Dr John Roche, the PM’s Chief Science Advisor.

🚀 World-leading science meets cutting-edge tech. Together with Seaweave, we’re unlocking new possibilities for aquaculture.

👉 www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/articl...

#Aquaculture #AI #Seaweave #Innovation

#bioeconomy #circulareconomy #textile #manufacturing #recycling #construction #innovation #technology #science #newzealand | Florian Graichen Textile circularity driving regional growth! The New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited is proud to collaborate with pioneering companies like UsedFULLY® , who are redefining what’s pos...

Textile circularity driving regional growth!

@bioeconomyscience.bsky.social is proud to collaborate with pioneering companies like UsedFULLY® , who are redefining what’s possible in #textile #recycling.
#bioeconomy
www.linkedin.com/posts/floria...

We’re adding to the #ConservationWeek count! 🌿🪲🍄

We look after 2.5 million+ specimens of Aotearoa’s indigenous flora & fauna — from plants and fungi to arthropods and harakeke.

📸 Dactylanthus taylorii (wood rose), Allan Herbarium
@docgovtnz.bsky.social