New Zealand’s world-class research institute HortResearch has merged with Crop & Food Research to form the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd.
The newly merged organisation has more than 900 staff based at facilities throughout New Zealand, as well as development staff and scientists in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Under the innovative set-up, horticulture, arable and seafood research all come under the same organisation.
The boards of directors at the crown research institutes agreed the move to provide greater depth in areas of common interest, such as sustainable production, elite genetics, smart breeding, and food and health science.
Chief executive of the new body, Peter Landon-Lane, said: “This will be a company with science at its heart. That is vital for New Zealand’s economic growth.
“At a time of global fiscal concern, it is essential that we retain our competitive edge by continuing to innovate and add value. The industries our science underpins - horticulture, arable farming, seafood and the wider food sector - have set themselves tough goals for growth and value enhancement. They expect Plant & Food Research to deliver science that helps them achieve those targets.”
Landon-Lane, pictured with the new logo, said Plant & Food Research had a clear strategy to align its science with industry needs. “We will be focusing our science on areas such as new, elite cultivar development for the fruit, vegetable and arable sectors, environmentally and economically sustainable production systems, as well as the application of primary-sector derived ingredients in functional foods.
“Our top scientists have already come together to discuss how they can work together in a new organisation and there is considerable enthusiasm for the benefits a merger will bring to our science,” he added.
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