Bioeconomy Science Institute
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bioeconomyscience.bsky.social
Bioeconomy Science Institute
@bioeconomyscience.bsky.social
Science with impact 🌱 Growing a sustainable bioeconomy for Aotearoa and the world.

The Bioeconomy Science Institute brings together AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and Scion into a single organisation.
For nearly a century, Aotearoa New Zealand has led pea breeding innovation. Our research develops high-yield, climate-resilient cultivars that support a $166M export industry and global plant-based food demand. Growing impact through science. 🌱 #bioeconomyscience
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Breeding next-generation peas · Plant & Food Research
The Bioeconomy Science Institute is breeding the next generation of pea cultivars in New Zealand, led by pea breeder Ali Izanloo
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November 14, 2025 at 2:09 AM
🎉 Dr Shannon Clarke wins the McMeekan Memorial Award for her groundbreaking work in animal genetics — boosting sustainable farming in Aotearoa New Zealand! 🌱

👏 A huge week of science & global collaboration at #ISGME2025

🔗 Read more: bit.ly/4p8rfYi/

#BioeconomyScience #AgInnovation
November 12, 2025 at 10:10 PM
🌲 #MeetOurPeople — Rosie Sargent, Senior Technologist at our Rotorua campus, spends her days in the timber drying lab. From analysing data to planning trials, no two days are the same. Get to know Rosie and her work 👇

🔗 www.scionresearch.com?a=132111 
Scientist profile: Rosie Sargent
Rosie Sargent loves wood. It's an incredible complex material, she says, that performs well and shouldn't be underestimated. It's that love that gets the Bioeconomy Science Institute senior technologist up in the mornings. Rosie's work centres around processing wood, mainly around wood drying and modification. "My work is really varied," she says.
www.scionresearch.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:57 PM
🎉 Congrats to Dr Jessie Prebble of the Bioeconomy Science Institute on receiving a Mana Tūāpapa Fellowship from Royal Society Te Apārangi! Her research will explore how plants support climate-resilient peat bogs. #BioeconomyScience #RoyalSocietyNZ #ClimateResilience

🔗 bit.ly/49bepnm/
November 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Our scientists have developed a portable, non-destructive tool to measure fruit firmness quickly and accurately — helping improve kiwifruit quality and reduce waste. Now used by Zespri across global markets. Read more: bit.ly/4oiMVAG
Non-destructive fruit testing · Plant & Food Research
Scientists at the Bioeconomy Science Institute developed a portable device that uses a small probe to delicately tap the fruit and quickly and accurately estimate its firmness
www.plantandfood.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
🌱🐄 Āmua’s cow wearable tech just got a $1.2M boost from AgriZeroNZ — with Bioeconomy Science Institute modelling showing up to 95% reduction in nitrous oxide emissions. Our science is helping turn farmer-led ideas into real environmental wins. 🔗 bit.ly/47FnbHD 
November 6, 2025 at 12:00 AM
🌿 Exciting news! The Bioeconomy Science Institute has received over $6M from the Marsden Fund to launch five groundbreaking research projects exploring climate adaptation in plants and fish, fruit genetics, and more. 

🔗 Learn about the projects: bit.ly/4qNXTA8
New funding to support healthy bioeconomy · Plant & Food Research
The Bioeconomy Science Institute is excited to receive more than $6 million of funding to start five new research projects from the latest Marsden funding round.
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November 5, 2025 at 8:43 PM
🥔 ‘Crop78’ – the perfect potato.

Developed by the Bioeconomy Science Institute, this award-winning cultivar is changing the game for growers and the global French fry market. 
Watch how Kiwi science is driving impact  👇 bit.ly/48QUdab
#BioeconomyScience #Innovation #2025KiwiNetAwards
'Crop78': The perfect potato driving global innovation
With high yields, strong disease resistance, efficient water and nitrogen use, ‘Crop78’ is outperforming other varieties and redefining the global French fry...
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November 4, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Bioeconomy Science Institute
How Big Is New Zealand’s Bioeconomy?

A critical question - now answered.

A @bioeconomyscience.bsky.social led study provides the most comprehensive measurement yet of Aotearoa New Zealand’s bioeconomy.
#bioeconomy
www.linkedin.com/posts/floria...
What Is the Scale of the Bio-Business Sector? Insights into Quantifying the Size of the New Zealand Bioeconomy | Florian Graichen
How Big Is New Zealand’s Bioeconomy? A critical question - now answered. A New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited led study provides the most comprehensive measurement yet of Aotearoa ...
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October 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
🔬🌱 #NewResearch from our team at the Bioeconomy Science Institute shows a fungus discovered in 2020 can break down wood and agricultural waste more efficiently than traditional commercial enzymes.
 
🔗 Read how it could boost the NZ #bioeconomy: tr.ee/nl4TH7
November 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
👏🔬 Science is beautiful! These stunning microscope images were captured by Bioeconomy Science Institute researcher Janet Reid, who’s exploring how skin cells interact with nanocellulose. The blue reveals the nanocellulose structures and the orange highlights human keratinocytes (HaCaTs).
November 3, 2025 at 1:00 AM
🕸️ Spooky meets science!

Researchers from the @waikatouniversity.bsky.social & Bioeconomy Science Institute found toy cobwebs can collect environmental DNA — helping track species for conservation & biosecurity.
👉 bit.ly/3JA9L7U
#BioeconomyScience #ScienceImpact 
Hallowe’en cobwebs are frighteningly good DNA collectors
They’re usually spun to make spooky Hallowe’en decorations, but new research from the University of Waikato and the Bioeconomy Science Institute has found that toy cobwebs can also weave surprising benefits for environmental research.
www.landcareresearch.co.nz
October 31, 2025 at 5:00 AM
🐑 What makes a ewe a great mum?

A new sheep trial led by the Bioeconomy Science Institute is exploring how stress in pregnancy affects ewe + lamb survival and farm sustainability — with potential to save NZ farmers $17–20M a year.

🔗 Read more: bit.ly/3LcacFX #BioeconomyScience 
New sheep trial aims to boost lamb survival and flock resilience | AgResearch
A major new sheep trial is underway in New Zealand to uncover what makes a ewe a “good mum” and how that impacts lamb survival and flock resilience.
www.agresearch.co.nz
October 30, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Meet Sarita Males, Taylan Topal & Dan Killeen, the team behind Neutectic Solutions, part of Sprout Agritech's Accelerator Spring25 Cohort. They’re tackling marine biofouling, a huge challenge for aquaculture, with a natural solution that’s better for marine ecosystems.

Learn more: bit.ly/3WaZ9iD/
October 29, 2025 at 6:00 AM
🏆 Sue Muggleston — KiwiNet KCA Commercialisation Professional of the Year 🏆

For 40+ years, Sue has championed the power of science to create real-world impact.

🎥 Watch her reflect on what drives her and why getting science “out there” matters: bit.ly/4ohVYSK
#2025KiwiNetAwards
Celebrating Sue Muggleston — KiwiNet KCA Commercialisation Professional of the Year 2025
YouTube video by Bioeconomy Science Institute
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October 28, 2025 at 2:35 AM
✨ A big night at the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards — celebrating our people, innovation and impact 🏆
We’re proud to be part of a science and innovation community driving real-world change for Aotearoa and beyond.
👉 Learn more: bit.ly/4otoH6t #2025KiwiNe#2025KiwiNetAwards
Celebrating the bioeconomy at KiwiNet awards · Plant & Food Research
A new potato cultivar, ‘Crop78’, was recognised for Commercial Impact, while intellectual property manager Sue Muggleston was named Commercialisation Professional at the KiwiNet Awards
www.plantandfood.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
A teenage fascination with photosynthesis led Plant Molecular Biologist Dr Hilary Ireland to reimagine the future of fruit.
Her research explores flower structure, pollination & coreless apples.🍏

🎥 Watch Hilary’s story to see how curiosity can drive innovation bit.ly/47jfd78
Dr Hilary Ireland
For Plant Molecular Biologist Dr Hilary Ireland, a curiosity to understand how things work has shaped her research journey — from a teenage fascination with ...
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October 21, 2025 at 9:04 PM
This #SaveTheKiwiWeek our research is making headlines on RNZ’s Country Life podcast!

A researchers from Massey University & the Bioeconomy Science Institute are exploring how North Island brown kiwi could help growers tackle pests naturally.

Listen here: bit.ly/4nxC30Z
October 20, 2025 at 2:15 AM
👏🌿 AgriSea has opened the world’s first commercial seaweed nanocellulose biorefinery in Paeroa — a big win for sustainable innovation in Aotearoa New Zealand! We’re proud to have partnered with the team on this journey, helping turn research into commercial impact.

🔗 tr.ee/UWDlg8
October 19, 2025 at 9:33 PM
#InTheNews | Bioeconomy Science Institute invasion ecologist Thomas Carlin joined Jesse Mulligan on RNZ Afternoons to discuss the growing threat of wilding conifers and how research, including our Vive La Résistance project, is helping protect our landscapes.

🎧 Listen in: bit.ly/4n85WEM
Tackling the growing problem of wilding pine
The 2025 Wilding Pines conference is currently taking place in Twizel The aim of the conference is to share knowledge, boost morale and hopefully attract new funding to the problem Funding which - acc...
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October 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
🏆 We’re thrilled to be the Services Award winner at the Natural Health Products NZ 2025 Supplier of the Year Awards, yesterday at Innovation Expo 2025! This award is based on nominations from across the natural health sector, celebrating suppliers who make real impact for their partners.
October 16, 2025 at 2:56 AM
#InTheNews We’re proud to see our work highlighted as part of a major new investment in Aotearoa’s bioeconomy.
📖 Read the full story via Newsroom newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/07/c...
October 15, 2025 at 1:13 AM
We were delighted to welcome Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, along with senior officials, to our Mt Albert Research Centre yesterday.

A great chance to share our science and strengthen ties with Singapore’s innovation ecosystem.
October 10, 2025 at 2:30 AM
🍎 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...
October 7, 2025 at 3:17 AM
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...
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
www.plantandfood.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:45 PM