HortResearch, the New Zealand-based research organisation, is looking for strategic alliances in the UK to develop commercial opportunities.
Michael Lay-Yee, general manager, international, said: “We have a huge team of scientists that are full of ideas and we want to connect supermarkets and suppliers with their consumers through our unique understanding of the consumers of the future.”
HortResearch has several scientific partnerships in Europe, including a long-standing link with Kent’s East Malling Research, Spain’s IRTA, PRI in Holland and INRA in France, but it is keen to forge closer ties with commercial partners in the horticultural industry, to put its scientific and product knowledge to full use. “We are talking to companies individually,” said Lay-Yee, “specifically in areas where we feel there are opportunities for co-development projects.”
An example of the body’s similar work to date is ripeSense, the ripeness determining label developed initially by HortResearch before it teamed up with outside individuals to form RipeSense Ltd, to move the product into becoming a commercial reality. “We can take these things forward ourselves and it depends on the project. Although we are a government-owned company, we are free to spin out in areas where we see commercial potential. From time to time though, projects are better served if carried out with other companies,” said Lay-Yee.
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