scigest - Bioeconomy Science Institute podcasts

Dr Rob Beresford returns to scigest with an update on the latest myrtle rust developments this summer in New Zealand and what we know about the fungal disease, its behaviour and its effects host plants so far. Learn how to identify the yellow rust, what to do if your spot it in your home garden or by the roadside, and where to report it.

After 30 years at Plant & Food Research and its predecessors, Philippa Stevens is ready for the OE she never had (after Covid)! The soon-to-retire Group GM Science Services looks back on her career which began as a technician. In a chat with new scigest host Hilary Ireland, Philippa shares her transition from science into science management, her involvement in opening export markets for NZ produce...

Fat in food generally gets a bad rap, but fish oil is one of the edible oils that are often associated with health benefits for its high content of omega-3 fatty acids. Our host Andrew chats with Nelson-based marine products scientist and chemist Daniel Killeen. Daniel deciphers the myths about fish oil - what it does to our body and where it came from. He also clears the air about some of the con...

Food safety is something we don't really think about until we get a case of an upset stomach. It is however a constant and crucial issue for the supply chain around the food industry. Plant & Food Research is looking at new ways to help the industry combat pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes on food while also reducing chemical and water usage. Today Blue Plunkett speaks to Sravani Gupta a scien...

Today we speak to Dr Ross Ferguson, an internationally recognized expert on the biology of kiwifruit. Ross's work helped to develop New Zealand's successful kiwifruit industry. In this podcast he talks to scientist Dr Jay Jayaraman (currently working on the kiwifruit disease PSA) about his career and his science, starting as a summer student and being one of the first people to work on kiwifruit....

As humans, our sense of smell tells us a lot about our surroundings and whether something is potentially good or harmful. Dr Melissa Jordan is an olfactory expert who has studied the evolution of olfaction in animals and insects including tuatara. She is also working to harness the biology that gives certain insects the ability to detect smells unnoticeable to us and turn it into sniffing devices...

Harlequin ladybird is a recent arrival in New Zealand but growers of major crops have already formed a love-hate relationship with it. Dr Dave Bellamy returns for another episode where he explains the benefits as well as problems posed by harlequin ladybirds in different parts of the country and updates us on his research on enhancing our understanding of the bug.

Have you ever cut open a home-grown feijoa and found rotten brown patches inside? Chances are it was caused by guava moth, an exotic pest from Australia which attacks crops including citrus, macadamia, and pipfruit besides guava. Asha Chhagan is researching ways to control the moth as it is causing more and more damage in certain regions, and she has a few suggestions for home gardeners.

Entomologist Dr Dave Bellamy was a hot dog vendor, high school science teacher and USDA postharvest researcher. Until two years ago, the US-born scientist had never crossed the equator. He shares the ups and downs of his career and tells us what drove him to uproot his family to move to New Zealand, a country he had never set foot in before, and how his science life in Motueka has been going so fa...

For 25 years Dr Charles Dwamena has made New Zealand home. While he is a scientist working on boosting the colour and nutrient content of fruit in the lab, he is also passionate about communicating science to the "street guy" through a radio show he has co-founded. Outside of his science work, he has recently been appointed as Honorary Consul of Ghana to New Zealand for his contribution to the Gha...

Entomologist Jessica Vereijssen is looking for Integrated Pest Management solutions for thrips on strawberry orchards. To make the environment less desirable to the pest, she has to put herself in its shoes. It also helps to have a group of growers who are eager to participate in the research!

Dr Phil Elmer calls himself a "magpie" that collects interesting microorganisms with potential. One of the yeast samples that he collected from apricots in Central Otago years ago has recently been released as a biocontrol agent for vine-killing kiwifruit disease Psa. He shares the research and development process of the bee-safe, sustainable solution Aureo®Gold with scigest.

Michelle Joeng and Karangawai Paringatai-Hare worked alongside Plant & Food Research scientists as student researchers last summer. They give us a review of their respective projects on oysters food safety and taonga plant poroporo. They also share tips on how to succeed in the very selective summer studentship programme and tell us what they've gained from the experience.

We're back with another chat with Dr Michelle Dickinson, host of the new science show "Breaking It Down" on TVNZ. In this extended episode, we cover a variety of subjects including running the "Nano Girl Live" shows and "Nano Girl Labs", diversity issues in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), the need for more effective science communication and education, and thoughts on climate ch...

Seafood breeding and plant breeding have a lot in common. Dr Maren Wellenreuther is harnessing plant breeding knowledge to increase the growth rate and tolerance of trevally and snapper while maintaining the health and genetic diversity of the species in an accelerated breeding programme.

Dr Brent Clothier has had the same job for 46 years, but there is never a dull moment. The prolific soil and water scientist received the Science New Zealand Plant & Food Research Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. He shares his insights into how his field has evolved overtime and his outlook for the horticulture industry in the face of the changing climate and growing environment.

Are all insects pests? Is it possible to manage the baddies without wiping out the goodies on a paddock or farm scale? Melanie Davison from Plant & Food Research and Abie Horrocks from the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) talk about integrated pest management, a pest control approach that uses a mixture of cultural, biological and chemical methods to deal with crop pests. They explain the role...

Dr Nick Albert is the recipient of the Science New Zealand Plant & Food Research Early Career Researcher Award 2019, but his science journey hasn't always been smooth sailing. He recounts his transition from a technology to science degree with the help of his mentors and shares how he has parlayed his new-found passion into a successful career in plant genetics, with a focus on breeding plants wit...

How did a shy nanotechnologist acquire the superpower to transform into Nano Girl? Is a phone booth involved? Dr Michelle Dickinson tells us how she overcame her poor performance in college and fear of public speaking to become one of the best known science influencers in New Zealand. She also takes us on an energising and eclectic tour of her science life so far - from nano technology in diapers...

Research associate Jung Cho recounts his bumpy road from being a disinterested student almost failing his uni studies and disappointing his immigrant parents to eventually finding his calling in postharvest science. This episode also marks Jay Jayaraman's official induction to the scigest team. Welcome Jay!

How can we improve pollination of field crops and reduce costs? This week we talk with Brad Howlett a scientist from Plant & Food Research and Phil Rolston from Foundation for Arable Research to discuss a fly that is showing huge potential as an alternative pollinator of field and seed crops - the drone fly.

Is the world's insect population actually going down or have we just learnt to jog with our mouths shut? Our scifi panel takes on the "insect apocalypse" claim and examines several widely cited papers. Tom, Blue, Jay and newcomer Frances also share exciting news on a novel technology that controls plant disease resistance, quantum supremacy, public trust in scientists, and using larvae to turn foo...

How does farm management influence soil physical, chemical and biological properties? Regenerative farmer Simon Osborne joins Plant & Food Research's Trish Fraser to discuss management on his cropping farm in Canterbury. Soil quality is of paramount importance on Simon's farm, which has been run as a no-till system for around 40 years. All crop residues are retained, and weeds, pests and diseases...

Dion Mundy talks about his journey as a viticultural scientist. Growing up on a vineyard, Dion's science career has encompassed studies in ecophyiology and research in areas like mulching. Dion discusses sustainability, work-life balance and teaching, as well as management strategies to keep vines healthy, like chainsaw surgery!

Jessica Rodrigues chats with Dr Nick Waipara (Rongawhakaata, and Ngāti Ruapani ki Turanga), a Senior Scientist at Plant & Food Research who has spent the past two decades in various roles at the front line of New Zealand's bioprotection. Nick talks about his science career and why protecting New Zealand's primary production and native ecosystems requires a multidisciplinary approach incorporating...