Plant & Food Research, formally known as The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd, is one of New Zealand’s seven Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), dedicated to delivering world-leading science and innovation across horticulture, arable production, seafood, biosecurity, and food technology. Headquartered in Auckland, the institute plays a central role in strengthening New Zealand’s primary industries and global food system competitiveness through science-driven solutions and sustainability-led research.
Core Business
As a government-owned research entity, Plant & Food Research's mission is to grow the value and productivity of New Zealand’s plant- and marine-based food industries. The core focus is on science and innovation across:
- Horticultural crop development
- Post-harvest food technologies
- Breeding and genetics
- Biosecurity and pest management
- Sustainable agriculture and aquaculture
- Nutritional science and consumer behaviour
With more than 1,000 staff across 14 sites in New Zealand and five international offices, the organization collaborates extensively with commercial producers, exporters, government ministries, and international research partners.
Product and Service Offerings
Plant & Food Research delivers a broad portfolio of scientific services, including:
- Plant Breeding – for kiwifruit, apples, berries, onions, potatoes, legumes, cereals, and more.
- Post-Harvest Technologies – to extend shelf-life and preserve quality of fresh produce.
- Precision Agriculture & Crop Protection – including pest monitoring, disease resistance, and digital farming tools.
- Seafood Innovation – enhancing yield, value, and sustainability in wild-catch and aquaculture sectors.
- Food Innovation – development of functional foods, flavor optimization, and novel ingredients.
- Sustainable Production Systems – including water and nutrient management.
- Export Readiness & Regulatory Support – assisting with global market compliance and phytosanitary protocols.
In addition, the institute provides customized contract research for domestic and international clients, alongside public-good science for industry transformation.
Specialization and USP
Plant & Food Research is internationally recognized for its specialization in:
- Commercial plant variety breeding, with world-renowned successes like:
- Zespri™ SunGold™ kiwifruit
- Jazz™ and Envy™ apples
- Radiance™ strawberries
- Integrative research across the food value chain, from genetics to consumer insights.
- Environmental sustainability and climate resilience embedded in all programs.
- Strong public-private partnerships, fostering innovation pathways into commercial channels.
Its USP lies in delivering science with impact—combining research excellence with industry collaboration to deliver scalable, real-world solutions.
Financial and Export Insights
As a Crown Research Institute, Plant & Food Research is funded through a mix of government contracts, commercial revenue, and public-good investment. Key financial highlights:
- NZD 178 million total revenue reported in FY2023.
- 51% of revenue from commercial and non-government contracts.
- Over 900 research contracts active annually, including multinational agri-tech and food corporations.
- Supports export outcomes indirectly by underpinning NZD 10+ billion of horticultural and seafood exports annually through scientific innovation.
Major export-influencing sectors supported include kiwifruit (Zespri), apples, berries, onions, seafood, and wine.
Target Market
Plant & Food Research serves a diverse mix of stakeholders:
- Primary sector companies (growers, packers, exporters)
- Global food and ingredient corporations
- New Zealand Government ministries (MPI, MBIE)
- International development agencies and NGOs
- Startups and innovation hubs
- Consumer health and wellness industries
Their science enables these clients to boost productivity, sustainability, consumer value, and regulatory compliance.
Capabilities
- 14 research locations in New Zealand, including Auckland, Lincoln, Palmerston North, and Motueka.
- International offices in the U.S., Australia, Chile, China, and Singapore.
- ISO/IEC 17025-accredited labs for advanced analytics.
- State-of-the-art glasshouses, gene banks, aquaculture labs, and sensory science facilities.
- Interdisciplinary teams spanning plant biology, genomics, entomology, food science, marine biology, and social science.
Plant & Food Research also contributes to New Zealand’s official variety evaluation and export protocols through regulatory science.
Certifications and Compliance
- ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accreditation for laboratory testing
- MPI-registered facilities for export certification
- Compliant with New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute governance framework
- Participant in international protocols such as the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing
The institute also complies with rigorous ethical standards for biological and environmental research.
Major Achievements
- Developed globally successful varieties such as:
- Zespri™ SunGold™, now generating over NZD 3 billion in global sales annually.
- Envy™ apples, commanding premium prices in U.S. and Asian markets.
- Played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s response to PSA (Pseudomonas syringae) in kiwifruit.
- Developed OptiCool™ and other post-harvest technologies adopted by global exporters.
- Instrumental in seafood innovations that increased wild catch efficiency and sustainability.
- Advanced the use of AI and machine learning in pest detection and crop forecasting.
Customer Testimonials
Although individual client feedback is confidential, partner organizations such as Zespri, T&G Global, and Scion have publicly credited Plant & Food Research with:
- “Driving innovation that underpins our premium fruit exports.”
- “Enabling faster product development through science-backed breeding.”
- “Delivering sustainable outcomes for high-value primary industries.”
