The Kiwifruit Working Group has awarded Plant & Food Research scientist Mark McNeilage a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the global kiwifruit industry.
The award recognises McNeilage’s 30 years of research in the kiwifruit industry, from reproductive biology to developing new cultivars, including several kiwiberry varieites and the Hort16A kiwifruit, marketed as Zespri Gold Kiwifruit.
McNeilage was presented with the award at the International Symposium on Kiwifruit in Chengdu, China.
“This award is a great recognition of Dr McNeilage’s career,” Dr Bruce Campbell, COO of Plant & Food Research said in a company statement. “His dedication to research and the practical application of science has supported the development of new technologies and cultivars that have changed the New Zealand industry.
“The introduction of Hort16A, the first yellow-fleshed kiwifruit available in the marketplace outside of China, is one of many successes in his career.”
