Crops & Flowers
New Thinking
New Science
New Value
New Zealand’s future is in smart foods
What does New Zealand need to be competitive in the global market place? Says Food & Beverage Taskforce member Paul Tocker: high-value, differentiated, functional foods with scientifically supported claims; and we must also upskill and enhance our infrastructure in a collaborative way.
Tiger smells Bonfire at Ryder Cup
The flaming orange flower of Begonia Bonfire, developed by Crop & Food Research in New Zealand, was perfectly positioned in front of Kildare’s K Club, the venue for this year's sizzling Ryder Cup golf competition between Teams USA and Europe. It too was making its mark, and represents hard (research) work leading to value-packed outcome and ongoing income.
DNA analyses confirm new truffle in New Zealand
DNA analyses have confirmed that a bianchetto truffle (Tuber borchii) has indeed been grown as part of a trial plot at Crop & Food Research’s Lincoln facility.
Forage crops survive snows
Despite 3 weeks under snow, trial crops of several cereal cultivars have done remarkably well, delighting Crop & Food Research scientists.
A first for organics
Organics and science: often seen as opposed are in fact bedfellows. Now Crop & Food Research has produced the nation's first science-based reference book for organics, in a bid to boost productivity and exports.
Blooming spectacular partnership with Hawaii University
Cymbidium orchids: while the name might not be pretty, the blooms are simply gorgeous. Cymbidiums are New Zealand’s top cut flower export, with over 3.7 million stems departing our shores annually. But with markets demanding continual novelty, Crop & Food Research, partnering the University of Hawaii, is keeping ahead of the game.
NZ horticulture quietly takes export spotlight
Apart from flagships Kiwifruit and wine, NZ horticulture exports are seldom high profile. But look closer: in the year to March 2006 horticulture exports quietly hit $2.3 billion. That’s 7% of all NZ exports and a huge $100 million gain on the previous year. Strong growth owes much to ground-breaking new products, where HortResearch takes a driving role.
Growing the $NZ80 million export spud
The humble spud no longer. Sequencing the potato genome will open the way to potatoes with better nutritional value, colour and flavour, powering New Zealand’s $80 million export market. Crop & Food Research scientists are part of a $36 million study involving 8 countries.
