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

The Bioeconomy Science Institute in New Zealand has successfully secured over $20 million from the Endeavour Fund to support two significant research programmes aimed at transforming the country’s food, biotechnology, and horticultural sectors. This funding represents a major investment in innovative approaches that promise to enhance both economic performance and sustainability across these industries.

Innovative Storage Solutions for Perishable Fruits

The first programme, 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, the initiative seeks to replicate the long storage life of kiwifruit in other fast-perishable varieties, such as summer fruits and berries. By applying advanced gene technologies, the team aims to develop methods that will allow these fruits to be stored and transported via sea freight to markets in Asia and Europe, thereby enhancing their export potential.

Currently, New Zealand’s fresh fruit exports generate approximately $3.5 billion annually, primarily driven by kiwifruit and apples. This research is expected to diversify the horticultural sector and support the New Zealand government’s objective of increasing export value from $7 billion to $12 billion per year. The anticipated outcomes include over $600 million in additional domestic economic activity, reduced food waste, and lower emissions by substituting air freight with sea freight.

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

Turning Forestry Waste into Sustainable Proteins

The second programme, “Turning Pine Waste into Premium Proteins,” is a five-year initiative with a budget of $10.4 million. This project aims to utilize Precision Fermentation (PF) technologies to convert pine forestry residues into high-value proteins. Led by Dr. David Hooks and Dr. Scott Knowles, the initiative focuses on transforming softwood residues that have previously been discarded or incinerated into fermentation feedstocks through innovative chemoenzymatic methods.

These feedstocks will facilitate the cultivation of engineered yeast strains capable of producing specialty proteins like osteopontin and casozepine, which replicate the nutritional benefits of traditional animal-derived ingredients. The programme aligns with New Zealand’s commitment to transitioning to a low-emission circular bioeconomy, addressing critical challenges in feedstock availability, manufacturing scale, and regulatory frameworks surrounding gene technologies.

“This is more than a research programme,” Dr. Hooks emphasized. “It’s a blueprint for how New Zealand can lead in the next generation of food and biotech 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 added, “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.” Anticipated innovations from the programme include novel enzymes for converting lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars and yeast engineering for high protein expression.

About the Bioeconomy Science Institute

In an effort to enhance the impact of its scientific research, the New Zealand government recently announced a restructuring of its Crown Research Institutes, merging them into four new Public Research Organisations. This transformation includes the creation of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, which integrates AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research, and Scion into a single entity, making it the largest research organisation in New Zealand.

During a recent visit to the Lincoln campus, the new visual identity of the Bioeconomy Science Institute was unveiled by Hon Shane Reti, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. Transition chief executive Mark Piper expressed enthusiasm for the new organisation, stating, “As we start our journey as the Bioeconomy Science Institute, it’s great to be able to share this new visual identity which speaks to the organisation that we are building, for the benefit of Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.”

In conjunction with the funding announcement, Minister Reti also revealed $6.5 million in new industry funding aimed at developing methods to reduce methane emissions from grazing livestock and highlighted a new licensing agreement with Nelson-based Seaweave to commercialise aquaculture monitoring technology.

The Bioeconomy Science Institute’s initiatives represent a significant step forward in New Zealand’s ambitions for sustainable growth and innovation in the food and biotechnology sectors, positioning the country as a leader in these critical areas.