New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science Institute Secures $20M for Research

The Bioeconomy Science Institute, a collaboration of four major research organizations in New Zealand, has achieved a significant milestone by securing over $20 million in funding from the Endeavour Fund. This financial boost will support two innovative research programmes aimed at transforming New Zealand’s food, biotechnology, and horticultural industries.

Groundbreaking Research Initiatives

One of the key programmes, titled “Super-Storing: Extending the Life of NZ’s Perishable Fruits,” has received $10.2 million in funding. Led by Associate Professor Robert Schaffer and Dr. Rosie Schröder, this initiative seeks to enhance the storage life of fast-perishable fruits like summer fruit and berries by applying advanced genetic technologies. The goal is to replicate the long storage capabilities of kiwifruit, enabling these fruits to be shipped via sea to distant markets, such as Asia and Europe, thus expanding export opportunities.

Currently, New Zealand’s fresh fruit exports generate approximately $3.5 billion annually, primarily from kiwifruit and apples. This research not only aims to diversify the horticultural sector but also supports the New Zealand government’s ambition to increase export value from $7 billion to $12 billion each year. It is anticipated that the programme will create over $600 million in additional domestic economic activity, mitigate food waste, and lower emissions by shifting from air-freight to more environmentally friendly sea-freight.

“This work will directly benefit growers, extend harvest windows, and build resilience against extreme weather,” says Schaffer. “It’s about unlocking the full potential of New Zealand’s horticultural diversity.”

The second initiative, “Turning Pine Waste into Premium Proteins,” is a five-year project with a funding amount of $10.4 million. This programme aims to utilize Precision Fermentation (PF) techniques to convert pine forestry residues, which are often discarded or burned, into high-value proteins. Led by Dr. David Hooks and Dr. Scott Knowles, the research will focus on transforming softwood residues into fermentation feedstocks using innovative chemoenzymatic methods.

These feedstocks will enable the cultivation of engineered yeast strains that produce specialty proteins, such as osteopontin and casozepine, which offer nutritional and functional benefits similar to those of traditional animal-derived ingredients. The programme aligns with New Zealand’s transition towards a low-emission circular bioeconomy and addresses significant challenges related to feedstock availability, manufacturing scale, and the regulatory landscape surrounding genetic technologies.

“This is more than a research programme,” Dr. Hooks states. “It’s a blueprint for how New Zealand can lead in the next generation of food and biotechnology innovation. This is about creating value from what we already have. New Zealand has abundant bioresources and world-class science. Precision Fermentation allows us to connect the two.”

Dr. Knowles emphasizes the environmental benefits, saying, “By converting forestry residues into feedstocks, we’re unlocking a new pathway for sustainable protein production—one that aligns with global efforts to build climate-resilient food systems.”

Researchers anticipate several innovations from this initiative, including the development of novel enzymes for converting lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars, advancements in yeast engineering for high protein expression, and the creation of single-cell protein as a co-product for animal feed.

Future of Bioeconomy Research in New Zealand

The establishment of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, which includes AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research, and Scion, marks a significant restructuring of New Zealand’s research landscape. Following a series of reviews indicating the need for changes in the scientific architecture, the government announced that seven Crown Research Institutes will merge into four new Public Research Organisations.

During a recent visit to the Lincoln campus of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, Hon Shane Reti, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, unveiled the new visual identity of the organization. “This is an exciting step in sharing our new organisation with the outside world,” said Mark Piper, the transition chief executive. “As we start our journey as the Bioeconomy Science Institute, it’s great to share this new visual identity, which speaks to the organization we are building for the benefit of Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.”

Additionally, Minister Reti announced $6.5 million in new industry funding aimed at developing methods to reduce methane emissions from grazing livestock. This announcement coincided with the signing of a licensing agreement with Nelson-based Seaweave to commercialize aquaculture monitoring technology.

The funding and initiatives from the Bioeconomy Science Institute signal a robust commitment to advancing New Zealand’s agricultural and biotechnology sectors, potentially setting a global standard for sustainable practices in food production and environmental stewardship.