scigest - Bioeconomy Science Institute podcasts

Data is transforming the way we do science. In this episode of scigest, host and scientist Tom Moore sits down with Principal Scientist Dr Linley Jesson to explore her fascinating career journey from ornithology and plant biology to genomics and data science. Linley shares how influential mentors helped shape her path, the curiosity that led her from studying bird behaviour to the intricacies of p...

Wildfires can be devastating for New Zealand’s communities and landscapes and they’re becoming more frequent, with the country experiencing an average of 3400 wildfires annually over the past 31 years, burning 5700 hectares of land. Understanding how wildfires behave is key to helping people prepare for and cope with their impact.    In this episode of Scigest, host and scientist Nicola Sulivan sp...

What practical steps can Aotearoa New Zealand take to strengthen its energy security while creating jobs and reducing environmental impacts?  In this episode of Scigest, host and scientist Darryl Herron talks with Paul Bennett, Integrated Bioenergy Portfolio Lead at the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao, about the opportunities for locally produced bioenergy and biofuels. Drawing on New Z...

Developing new plant varieties helps keep consumers interest in crops and also assists growers manage environmental challenges, such as new pests and diseases and changing climates. In this latest "Science life for me” series podcast, scientist and Scigest host Dion Mundy speaks to berry breeder Pauline Kerbiriou about her role, the importance of plant breeding, and the characteristics that breede...

The Allan Herbarium houses plant species from around the world, with a particular focus on indigenous and exotic plants of Aotearoa, New Zealand and the South Pacific. It contains approximately 800,000 specimens, which include dried plants, lichens, mosses, liverworts, seeds, fruits, wood, liquid-preserved specimens, and microscope slides.   In this Scigest episode, host and scientist Rebecca Bloo...

As a lover of hoppy beers and the outdoor life, it was natural that plant breeder Kerry Templeton should be tempted to head down from Auckland to Motueka nine years ago to take on the hop breeder role for the Bioeconomy Science Institute. In this latest  podcast in our "Science Life For Me series”, scientist Dion Mundy speaks to Kerry about his life as a hop breeder and also talk hops and the hop...

Indigenous trees are vital for environmental health and biodiversity, and Aotearoa New Zealand has bold plans to re-establish them. Scientist and Scigest host Nicola Sullivan talks to invasion ecologist and establishing indigenous forests portfolio lead Tom Carlin about this work and why managing the spread of wilding pines is a key part of it.   For links to a Farmers Weekly podcast on "Bringing...

Arctic Apples are one of the first fruits globally developed using gene technologies. Available for consumers in the USA since 2017, the Arctic series includes a modified gene that stops apples browning, making them perfect for a pre-sliced snack. Okanagan Specialty Fruits, the developers of Arctic Apples, are looking at how they can incorporate new gene technologies into their product development...

Pasture plays a vital role in many farming systems by providing essential feed for the livestock that support our food and fibre industries. But what we see is just the surface, the health of pasture is intrinsically linked to a family of microorganisms called endophytes that live within plants. In this episode of Scigest, we explore the remarkable role of endophytes and how they influence pasture...

Principal Scientist Marlon dos Reis joins host Rebecca Bloomer to explore how the Bioeconomy Science Institute is using advanced technology to help solve a critical bottleneck in the seed industry: the time-consuming and labour-intensive nature of traditional seed quality assessment.  They discuss our collaboration with the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) and the successful development of a s...

Aotearoa New Zealand’s next biosecurity threat might not arrive by ship or plane — it could already be in the air. In this episode of scigest, scientist and host Ki-Taurangi Bradford speaks with biosecurity scientist Dr Toni Withers about the invisible wind pathway carrying pests across the Tasman. 
Toni explains how moths, butterflies and plant pathogens can travel vast distances on air currents,...

Host Dr Hilary Ireland speaks with Dr Bevan Weir about the vital role Aotearoa New Zealand’s nationally significant collections and databases play in protecting biodiversity and strengthening biosecurity. Bevan shares stories that highlight why taxonomy matters — from identifying the pathogen behind kauri dieback and protecting rare underground fungi, to preventing toxic new weeds, safeguarding av...

We’re celebrating World Soil Day by exploring the vital role soils play in the landscapes, food systems and environmental resilience of Aotearoa New Zealand.   Host Rebecca Bloomer is joined by soil scientist Pierre Roudier, President of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science, to explore how soils support ecosystems, store carbon, manage water, reduce flood risk and even shape urban planning.   P...

In the spring of 1985, a pivotal breeding cross produced two of New Zealand’s most successful apple varieties —Scifresh and Scilate — later commercialised and marketed by T&G Global as JAZZ™ and ENVY™ apples.   This pioneering work at the Bioeconomy Science Institute’s (formerly DSIR’s) Hawke’s Bay research orchard led to commercial partner T&G Global licensing the varieties and taking them to con...

In the spring of 1985, a pivotal breeding cross produced two of New Zealand’s most successful apple varieties —Scifresh and Scilate— later commercialised and marketed by T&G Global as JAZZ™ and Envy™ apples.     This pioneering work at the Bioeconomy Science Institute’s (formerly DSIR’s) Hawke’s Bay research orchard led to commercial partner T&G Global licensing the varieties and taking them to co...

When you go to the supermarket, you’ll find lots of different varieties of fruits and vegetables. Many people have a favourite apple, kiwifruit, potato or tomato variety, something that tastes particularly good or fits with their lifestyle. What you probably don’t realise is that behind each of these varieties is a whole suite of protection for the breeder, the grower and the marketer, giving them...

Feed people, not landfill. Around 30% of food grown for human consumption never gets eaten, yet thousands still go hungry. What role does food rescue play in resolving the conundrum of providing healthy, enjoyable, affordable nutrition within Planetary Boundaries? In this episode host Roger Robson-Williams chats with Iain Lees-Galloway, the General Manager of the Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance. The...

From shellfish and seaweeds to tiny amphipods, biofouling is the stubborn layer of life that clings to boats and marine structures, creating costly maintenance challenges. While some chemical treatments can help control biofouling, many of these chemicals pose risks to other marine life. This week, host Julie Blommaert speaks with Research Technologist Peter Bell about his research into smarter, s...

How do you take a brilliant scientific idea and turn it into something that makes a real difference in the world? The answer often starts with intellectual property (IP).   For decades, Plant & Food Research, part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, has been protecting and growing the value of its science through IP, helping discoveries move from the lab to industry and society, establishing the...

What is sustainability, and how can businesses contribute to it? Why do many larger organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand align with the Sustainable Business Council (SBC)?   In this episode, host Roger Robson-Williams is joined by Jay Crangle and Mike Burrell from the SBC to explore these questions, sparked by the recent merger of four Crown Research Institutes into the new Bioeconomy Science Ins...

Securing intellectual property (IP) for our research is now a vital aspect of science delivery in Aotearoa New Zealand, though this was not always the case. In this episode of Scigest, Hilary Ireland speaks with Sue Muggleston, the recently retired IP Manager at Plant & Food Research, who played a key role in shaping the organisation’s approach to protecting and commercialising its scientific disc...

Mealybugs may be tiny, but they’re causing big problems for Aotearoa New Zealand’s wine industry by spreading the destructive Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3).  In this episode of Scigest, host and scientist Nicola Sullivan chats with fellow scientist Michelle Thompson about her Endeavour Fund research exploring whether some grapevines are naturally better at defending themselves ag...

In this episode of Scigest, we delve into the fascinating and ever-evolving world of utilising artificial intelligence in science. Host and senior scientist Dr Jay Jayaraman chats with researcher Sarah Philp-Wright about her work on developing novel plant proteins with the help of AI. They discuss powerful tools such as RoseTTAFold, AlphaFold, and RFdiffusion, and their potential to reshape agricu...

Grab a cuppa and prepare to be recharged by this high-energy chat with Dr Vicky Foster about the British sugar industry. Vicky has held various leadership roles within the UK food system, most recently as Head of the British Beet Research Organisation. In this episode of People|Planet|Food, host Roger Robson-Williams talks with Vicky about how the resilient sugar beet plant turns sunlight into swe...

Fancy a sprinkle of positivity? Then check out this conversation with Sarah Lei, Head of Sustainability at Trevelyan's Pack & Cool Ltd., an understated leader in the kiwifruit industry. Hear from Sarah about how her experience as an engineer and yoga teacher informs her approach to making a large kiwifruit packhouse an exemplar of sustainable business in action. Challenges include upgrading ageing...