scigest - Plant & Food Research podcast

Roger Robson-Williams, Chief Sustainability Officer at Plant & Food Research, joins Scigest podcast host Rebecca Bloomer to discuss his scientific journey and interest in the future prosperity of food production in Aotearoa. In their conversation, Roger introduces his upcoming podcast, People, Planet, Food, which will feature discussions with individuals from various fields striving to create a more environmentally sustainable, economically inclusive, and socially just food system. Stay tuned for the release of the first episode of People, Planet, Food in the coming weeks. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Working with bees, and in local body politics means you are always at risk of being stung at some stage, but that hasn’t stopped our latest guest, apiculture scientist Dr James Sainsbury taking up the challenge. In this podcast Andrew Dare speaks to James, who specialises in honey bee health and pollination, about his interesting and diverse career so far - from working with Kaka parrots in Wellington, bumble bees in London Zoo, supporting science involving at-risk communities in Africa, along with a stint being a stay at home dad. James also has another life as councillor for the Matamata Piako District Council for the past 7 years and recently has taken up the challenge to be our podcaster at our Lincoln site. He clearly likes to be a busy man! James’s brother is comedian Tom Sainsbury and his video to support James that Andrew mentioned in this podcast, can be found here: www.facebook.com/jsainsbury/videos/373247890273858 To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Knowing what’s in the food you consume is important – to help with that, scientists at Plant & Food Research are responsible for managing a database containing more than 2,700 foods commonly consumed in Aotearoa. In this episode we hear more about what the New Zealand Food Composition Database is and how to use it from Dr Carolyn Lister, leader of the Food and Health Information team at Plant & Food Research. The database is very easy to use with a variety of search options including searching on a specific nutrient. This episode also covers serving sizes, ultra-processed foods and the importance of national nutritional surveys. To view the database see: www.foodcomposition.co.nz. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links and information on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages www.plantandfood.com/scigest.

New Zealand’s ocean space is many times larger than our land area and presents an enormous opportunity to expand into sustainable open ocean aquaculture for finfish and shellfish. In this week’s podcast, Julie Blommaert speaks to scientist Suzy Black about mobile aquaculture, an innovative new system for farming fish that has massive potential for the future of seafood production, at a time when the world’s reliance on seafood as a protein source is set to continue growing. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Today on Scigest, we speak to Dr Andrew Allan, Principal Scientist at Plant & Food Research and Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. Andy was recently elected as a Fellow to the Academy of the Royal Society Te Apārangi in recognition of more than 30 years of research in plant genetics, and has featured on the 2022 and 2023 Clarivate Highly-Cited Researchers list compiled from the world’s scientists. Andy talks about his science journey, including his insights on the evolution of genetic technologies and their potential to support sustainable food production. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages www.plantandfood.com/scigest

From language barriers to cultural adjustments, international students and professionals face unique challenges when relocating to a new country to pursue their science careers. In this podcast episode, Jay Jayaraman, hailing from Fiji, chats with fellow scientists Luna Hasna from Bangladesh, Liz Florez from Peru, and Tina Wang from China. Together, they share their experiences, highlighting the challenges and the incredible opportunities of immigrating to Aotearoa New Zealand. To see links to the support groups as mentioned in this podcast and to view our full catalogue of podcasts please go to our Scigest pages www.plantandfood.com/scigest

A short trailer on the Scigest podcast channel

Science careers can take many paths, some planned and some not. This week Tom Moore speaks to Jolon Dyer who is the GM Science Services at Plant & Food Research about his fascinating science journey from working on innovative cancer drug research, to teaching English in Japan, to then looking at the science around wool fibres before moving into leadership roles. Jolon also discusses his self-development from a self-confessed introverted nerd to someone that can inspire students through his teaching and mentoring. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Today on Scigest we speak to Dr David Teulon - an entomologist and Principal Scientist at Plant & Food Research. During his 30-plus year career in science, Dr Teulon has championed sustainable pest management and biosecurity research through his efforts as a researcher and in his role as the Director of Better Border Biosecurity or B3. In 2023 David was presented with the Plant & Food Research Lifetime Achievement Award. See video link: https://youtu.be/7cJ8pFJruQI?feature=shared To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Scientists studying the pollination of native plants have been surprised by the large number of insect visitors contributing to pollination, which bodes well for those planting native species on their farms. This week podcaster and scientist Dr Tom Moore speaks to Entomologist Brad Howlett who provides an update on this research project. The research findings helps to confirm the importance of native plantings in encouraging pollinating insects, and allows us to design plantings based on the best insect species to attract for any particular farm. This Biodiversity for Beneficial Insects research has been funded through a Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFFF). To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages www.plantandfood.com/scigest

In Marlborough’s Awatere Valley ground wētā are a common sight on some vineyards, burrowing in soft irrigated soil beneath the vines. Winemakers are keen to find ways to co-exist with this taonga species, including looking for sustainable solutions that could help prevent wētā from feasting on the tender foliage on grape vines during the crucial spring budburst. This week scientists and podcaster Nicola Sullivan speaks to crop protection entomologist Jessica Vereijessen about progress so far on this project. The project is funded by the New Zealand Wine Futures Fund. The NZWFF is funded through New Zealand Winegrowers levies and project managed by the Bragato Research Institute (BRI). To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information for some of our podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Scientists are working to find to a use for 1000s of unwanted starfish, which have been decimating mussel beds in Bay of Plenty’s Ōhiwa Harbour. In partnership with mana whenua, research institutes Waikato University, the Cawthron Institute and Plant & Food Research are working on a project that involves harvesting the starfish and using them to produce an anti-ageing skin cream. In this podcast Scigester Julie Blommaert speaks to Plant & Food Research’s Dr Mathew Cumming (Team Leader, Marine Biopolymer Science) who, along with the Cawthron Institute’s Matt Miller, found that starfish are a good source of marine collagen, which is a high value ingredient in cosmetics. See more podcasts from us at https://www.plantandfood.com/scigest

When developing new food technologies and farming systems, it is critical to consider consumer attitudes towards these technologies. Plant & Food Research’s Future Urban Consumer programme has been digging deeper into how consumers in both New Zealand and our overseas export markets think and feel about different emerging food technologies, and the drivers behind those attitudes. In this podcast Hilary Ireland speaks to three members of the Future Urban Consumer team about this research and some of the initial findings.

Over his 45-year career, Dr Jim Walker has driven significant change in the horticultural sector, using his scientific expertise to develop innovative tools and techniques for managing pests and diseases, which have helped position Aotearoa New Zealand as a competitive and top-quality fruit-growing nation. Scigest host Rebecca Bloomer talks to Jim about the pivotal moments and milestones of his illustrious career and the challenges and the breakthroughs that have defined his legacy. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of marine science with Phd scientist Alex Leonard and new Scigest podcast host, Julie Blommaert. Learn how Alex's journey into marine science paved the way for her current work on fish collagen. This is Julie Blommaert's debut epsiode as a host of Scigest podcast! Based at our seafood science site in Nelson, Julie will bring more fascinating interviews on seafood science.

Cyclone Gabrielle was a devastating event that caused widespread damage to the pipfruit growing region of the Hawkes Bay. Today Rebecca Bloomer speaks to scientist Jim Walker and research orchard manager Peter Welch about the short and long term effects of the cyclone to our orchards and the whole industry. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on topics covered please go to our Scigest pages at www.plantandfood.com/scigest

In this episode we meet Dr. Roshan Khadka, who is working on a new way to power wearable health devices. Roshan's science journey started in his hometown of Kathmandu, Nepal before a PhD funded by Plant & Food Research led him to the University of Auckland in 2015. His work on sensor development contributed to the success of Plant & Food Research spin-out company, ScentianBio. Now, five years on Roshan is aiming to make waves in his new research space and also finding ways to celebrate and honour his home country and the special ties it shares with New Zealand.

In this Scigest episode we speak to Plant & Food Research’s new chief executive, Mark Piper. Mark joined the organisation three months ago after a 30 year stint at Fonterra, where he held leadership roles locally and in the US and Japan. Mark shares a bit about his background, his journey into science leadership as well as his first impressions of Plant & Food Research and his aspirations for the company. For more information and podcasts see our Scigest page on: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

In this podcast episode we meet Julie Bloomaert, a Post-doctoral Scientist at Plant & Food Research. Julie works in the Seafood Production group - with a background in biology and genetics she's aiming to improve snapper for aquaculture by understanding and utilizing their genetic traits. Julie's scientific curiosity was partly sparked by a field trip organised by one of her high school teachers and it led her to pursue a PhD in evolutionary biology in Austria. Having lived in many different countries, Julie embraces new experiences and will soon be joining the Scigest team as a new Scigest podcaster.

A journey into a science career can be fraught with many challenges along the way. Today we speak to Luna Hasna about her inspiring and multi hurdled journey - from a young girl in Bangladesh with a passion for science, to getting married and moving to Aotearoa New Zealand and how owning and running a kebab shop in Auckland eventually led to her dream career, working in the plant pathogens department at Plant & Food Research. To see some of Luna’s artwork see her Instagram feed: @lunascollection_45. For further Scigest podcasts please see our Scigest pages at www.plantandfood.com/scigest.

Early Career Researchers (ECRs) struggle to fund their research. With very few funding opportunities within New Zealand and high competition for them, most ECRs feel unprepared and uninformed about how and where to find funding at this critical stage of their careers. This episode aims to highlight funding opportunities in Aotearoa, with a specific focus on Rutherford fellowships and Marsden funds, and includes tips and tricks on how to be successful – tailored to ECRs. Links to ECR funding sites can be found on this podcasts page on our Scigest site: www.plantandfood.com/scigest.

Indoor farming might be part of the solution to the global food security crisis, but how ready are we for this change in the way we produce fruit and vegetables? Scigest host Rebecca Bloomer sits down with Samantha Baldwin to chat about the highs and lows of indoor and vertical farming, what challenges this ‘new’ type of farming still faces, and what New Zealand is doing in this space.

Plant Pathologist Dr Bob Fullerton has improved horticulture and changed lives in developing countries for nearly 50 years. Bob sat down with Scigest while he was back in Aotearoa New Zealand to discuss his extensive and rewarding career. He talks about how his experience of growing up on a Queensland pineapple farm led him into international development work and how science can create opportunities to reduce poverty and improve lives. Links to learn more about the Dragon Fruit Network https://dfnet.fftc.org.tw/Page/Home.aspx?v=1382263207 or to watch an episode of Shamba Shape Up on avocados and Phytophthora root rot disease https://youtu.be/kWy4ezP2qzA. www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Imagine this – you have two hours to prove to a room of experts that your PhD research was good enough to land you a doctorate. Daunting, right? In this episode, Dr Yongyan Peng (Angel) joins ex-PhD students and newly minted Drs Erin Stroud and Hilary Ireland to chat about how they prepared for and successfully defended their theses. You’ll hear a play-by-play audio diary of Erin’s defence process and reflections from Erin and Hilary on the run-up to the examination day. If you are doing a PhD, this is the episode for you! www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Science careers can be diverse. How do you pick which path to follow? Starting out with a series of contract roles, Plant Physiology Scientist and PhD student Kris Kramer-Walter took the try-before-you-by approach. Scigest host Erin Stroud chats to Kris about his journey into a science career and the diverse range of roles he has had so far. From working in the laboratory to sifting through land purchase agreements to fieldwork in remote parts of the New Zealand bush, Kris shares his insights into how to craft to perfect career for you. www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest

In today’s episode, scigest host Erin Stroud chats to her personal mentor Dr Priya Subramanian, Plant & Food Research’s Dr Jill Stanley, and Student Support Adviser for Māori and Pacific students Lizzie Tafili about the importance of mentoring. Acting as a how-to guide, this episode will help you find (and be) a good mentor, no matter what stage of your career you are at. For more podcasts from us: https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest

Our host Erin Stroud chats to students Tom Parekowhai and Rāwinia Wikaira as they recount their summers in science. Tom and Rāwinia cover the types of projects summer students can get involved in at Plant & Food Research - spanning from protecting taonga trees to modelling apple orchards. Covering the highs and lows of working in science and the importance of creating safe space for Māori students, this episode is your go-to guide to being (or hosting) a summer student. For more podcasts from us head to https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest.

While an invasion of creepy crawlies may be the stuff of nightmares, it could be a reality for New Zealand growers and gardening hobbyists. Fall armyworm has recently made its way to our shores and, under the right conditions, has the potential to wipe out crop plants overnight. In today’s episode, we chat to Frances MacDonald and Jordan Pickering about why Fall armyworm is a threat to Aotoearoa New Zealand, the role of scientists and individuals in biosecurity threat events, and what you should do if you spot one in your backyard. Thanks to B3 for supporting this MPI/PFR Summer Studentship. This podcast was recorded on the 31st January 2023, for current information on the status of the fall army worm in New Zealand please see the MPI website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/major-pest-and-disease-threats/fall-armyworm/ Thanks to B3 for supporting Jordan’s MPI/Plant & Food Research Summer Studentship.

Scientists from Plant & Food Research have been working with partners at the Southern Horticultural Research Institute in Viet Nam over the last decade on a joint dragon fruit breeding programme and have developed three new varieties. VentureFruit™ has joined the collaboration with exclusive global commercialisation rights to the first three varieties from the programme. Dr Satish Kumar chats to Scigest host Erin Stroud about his work in the dragon fruit breeding programme and how a decade of research resulted in a new horizon for dragon fruit. The new varieties offer appealing fruit characteristics while addressing some of the major pest and disease challenges faced by dragon fruit growers in Viet Nam. For more podcasts from us head to https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest

Nighttime cricket calls might be the soundtrack of summer, but for farmers, it's not a noise they want to hear. In this Scigest episode, entomologist Sophie Hunt and Northland kumara grower Warwick Simpson talk about how black crickets are a pest for farmers, damaging crops and pastures; and their acoustic cricket call trap, an innovative new tool to help reduce the number of these pests.

Scientist and Scigest podcaster Rebecca Bloomer talks fellow scientist Tom Moore about her journey into science, asking interesting biological questions, how curiosity can drive science communications, and the importance of good support networks. In 2022, Rebecca was recognised with the Plant & Food Research Early Career Researcher award at the Science New Zealand Awards.

The multi-disciplinary Filling the Void project received the Science New Zealand Team Award for their work in laying the foundation for a new breeding programme for Aotearoa. Their goal was to develop a novel berry that would combine the commercial benefits of blueberries with the colour-filled flesh of bilberries. This new hybrid berry would contain five-fold the health-promoting anthocyanins of blueberries – a true super berry with exciting potential for Aotearoa. Hilary Ireland talks to scientist Richard Espley about the importance of fruit colour and how this research will allow the breeding team to develop new fruits with added health benefits.

Achieving total utilisation and maximum value from a catch is an significant goal for the seafood industry. In this podcast, we discuss Cyber Physical Seafood Systems (Cyber-Marine), a new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) funded research programme aimed at achieving 100% utilisation and maximised value for all harvested wild and aquacultured seafood. Scigest host Andrew Dare speaks to scientist Dr Susan Marshall, Plant & Food Research, and Dr Owen Catchpole, Chief Engineer at Callaghan Innovation, about the project and the challenges of extracting specific compounds out of whole or parts of fish.

Passionate plant virologist Associate Professor Robin MacDiarmid talks to Scigest host Erin Stroud about how her family sparked her interest in a science career, the devastating loss of her mother, and personal strengths, determination and appreciation of life. Robin and Erin discuss cultural and social responsibilities of science, how viruses are incredibly misunderstood, and the importance of home and engaging with your community.

Scientist Blue Plunkett speaks to Andrew Kralicek, Chief Technology Officer of Scentian Bio, about biosensors that can detect volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) – or more simply, smells, in liquid and air. The ground-breaking technology has broad applications across a number of industries, from medical and health applications to food production. Andrew also chats about life as a CTO in a start-up company and the progress made since our previous interview with Andrew five years ago. Note: at the time of recording, Andrew could not disclose Scentian Bio have just been awarded a US $1.7m grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate the development of the detection of human diseases like tuberculosis and malaria. For more podcasts from us, head to: www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest

Wanting to see the bigger picture and understand what knowledge could be gained from the data he was collecting opened up a whole new world of data science for scientist Jian Liu. Jian chats to statistical scientist and new Scigest host Tom Moore about his journey from soil sampling and field science into the world of data science, the advantages of the New Zealand tertiary education system, and the importance of good mentors.

How we grow, buy, eat and even value our food is changing. In our 100th Scigest podcast Ian Proudfoot, KPMG Global Head of Agribusiness, and our CEO David Hughes discuss the future of food, how value creation and different technologies and approaches can help create a sustainable, resilient food system that works for everyone.

In this episode of our Starting In Science series, host Erin Stroud chats to plant-pathogen scientist Dr Nick Waipara (Rongowhakaata and Ngāti Ruapani ki Turanga), entomologist Dr Dave Bellamy, and Dr Andrew Kralicek, founder and CTO of Scentian Bio, about how diverse a science career can be, potential career pathways and pivot points, and how to move from gumboots to the boardroom and back again. For more podcasts from us head to https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest

Being a scientist isn’t all just lab work! Communicating your research to other scientists, industry, and the public is integral. Host Erin Stroud speaks with Maree McEntee, a social scientist and lecturer from The University of Auckland; Emma Timewell, Communications Manager; Brent Clothier, Principal Scientist and President of the Royal Society Te Apārangi and Brian Cutting, Apiculture Scientist from Plant & Food Research about communicating science to all parts of the community and the importance of engagement and active listening. For more podcasts from us go to https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest

In the second instalment of our Starting in Science series, co-hosts and PhD students Erin Stroud and Hilary Ireland chat to a star-studded line up of panelists to celebrate International Women’s Day. Joined by Dr Jill Stanley, Dr Kieren Arthur, and Dr Sarah Moss, we chat about how to be yourself in science, avoiding stereotype traps, making sure women have a seat and voice at the table, the importance of supportive colleagues and good mentors, and other tips and tricks for women, and people who identify as women, starting in science.

Have you ever wondered how to start your science career? In the first episode of our Starting in Science series, hosts PhD student Erin Stroud and Scientist Jay Jayaraman ask the experts, Dr Richard Newcomb (Plant & Food Research) and Dr Jo Putterill (University of Auckland), how to take the first, second, and third steps towards an exciting new career in science. We talk about what it takes to be a scientist, how to navigate your way through the tertiary education system, and how to set yourself up for future employment - you won't want to miss this one!

Bioinformatics is cutting-edge science that applies tools of computation and analysis to capture and understand biological data. It is an interdisciplinary field which harnesses computer science, mathematics, physics, and biology. Scientist and podcaster Blue Plunket speaks to Bioinformatician Amali Thrimawithana about her journey into science and her fascinating work with two taonga species, manuka and snapper. For more podcasts from us head to: www.plantandfood.co.nz/scigest

There are enormous benefits that Aotearoa New Zealand’s insect fauna can play in pollinating crops and controlling insect pests. Scientist Brad Howlett speaks to Scigest host Nicola Sullivan about designing native plantings to increase the abundance of native pollinators and natural enemies. By returning native plants, animals and insects, we can create more productive, resilient farms, bringing economic, environmental and social benefits to New Zealand. Farmers can help Brad's research into the benefits of beneficial biodiversity by completing this short survey: surveymonkey.com/r/W6FJDGZ

Dr Ian Horner discusses Kauri dieback disease and his research to help save the iconic, taonga species.

Weapons, surveillance, covert operations and sabotage. Hear from Dr Jo Bowen on how her research is helping the plant outfox the pathogen.

Manufacturing electronic sensors that harness the super-sensory capacity of insects: Dr Andrew Kralicek is designing new sensing equipment for biosecurity, medical diagnosis and workplace safety from cloned insect protein receptors.

A chatty introduction to the scigest team - who we are, the science we do, what we think about science in society, and a bit about Blue's car.

Plant & Food Research CEO David Hughes chats with Scigest host Hilary Ireland about his journey science leadership, the big opportunities in the future of food, sustainability and how science can create a better world for everyone. Listen to the Future of Food episode mentioned in this podcast here: www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/article/future-of-food. For more podcasts from us head to: www.plantandfood.co.nz/scigest

Fish are not simple to feed. Their nutritional requirements vary hugely depending on the species, life stage and growing environment. Most of the aquafeeds currently used in Aotearoa New Zealand is imported and being able to produce New Zealand-made aquafeeds from locally produced ingredients is crucial for the sustainable growth of marine fish aquaculture in Aotearoa. Food and Bioproduct Technologist Katrina Fletcher chats to Scigest host Andre Dare about the exciting but complex process of exploring and designing locally produced aquafeeds. Watch our video on sustainable aquaculture in the open ocean here: https://youtu.be/o6W9ht4DPB8

Following his passion, curiosity and interest led statistical scientist Tom Moore into a varied science career. Fellow scientist and Scigest host Susan Thomson speaks to Tom as he recounts his transition from freshwater ecology and parasitic vampire freshwater mussels to applying data techniques to get the most out of the information collected by scientists. To learn more about Tom's research head to his website www.mooreecology.com

Improving efficiency of fruit production on the minimum amount of land while reducing inputs on the orchard is vital for the longevity and sustainability of the fruit tree industries around the world. Scientist and podcaster Rebecca Bloomer speaks to fruit crops physiology scientist, Ben van Hooijdonk about a new system called Future Orchard Production Systems or FOPS that fulfils many of these requirements with impressive yield results so far. Here is a short video explaining the FOPS system: https://youtu.be/4kGuMkHjS6E and this videos shows Ben recently harvesting fruit from our FOPS orchard: https://youtu.be/C4-eNrMFRzE

Wheat is the most widely grown commercial crop in the world, yet flour and bread disappeared from supermarket shelves during the lockdown. Wheat breeder Jamie Macalister chats to Scigest host Rebecca Bloomer about researching genomics in wheat, looking at reducing gluten peptides that stimulate an immune response, and how building resilience in our local grain economy would strengthen food security given the current volatility with global supply chains. See more podcasts from us at https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest

Yuki Wadamori, a scientist in our Food & Bioproducts Technology team, sunk her teeth into a new career after working as a dentist in Japan. She chats to Scigest host Nicola Sullivan about her interesting career path and how her love of food led to a career combining dentistry and science. For more podcasts from us go to https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest

Data and science have always gone together. With the evolution of fast processing, the ability to rapidly analyse data has transformed. In the first episode of our new data science series, host Hillary Ireland speaks to Linley Jesson, Harris Lin and Mark Wohlers, three of our team leading the way in the data science evolution. The panel explains some of the terminology and discusses what data science is and how their work impacts the exciting future of this technology. For more podcasts from us go to www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest.

This week, Jay Jayaraman chats to scientist Mark Anderson about his fascinating and varied science career. They discuss how getting get your foot in the door was very different in the 1980s, fungal pathogen science, including early research on cabbage tree sudden decline and phytoplasmas. Plus, Mark's experience scriptwriting for Shortland Street! For more podcasts from us go to https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/scigest

Get to know more about the newest members of our Scigest team - Hilary Ireland, Jay Jayaraman, Erin Stroud, Nicola Sullivan, Rebecca Bloomer and Ria Rebstock - their science work, and their thoughts on the importance of science communication.

New Zealand has some of the most sought-after hops in the world. Dr Ron Beatson chats to Scigest host Nicola Sullivan about leading the research and development of hop breeding and genetics at Plant & Food Research for 38 years; the production of unique cultivars with a range of flavours that brewers love, and what it's like to have hop variety named after you!

Scientist Dr Ross Bicknell discusses the discovery of a new gene described as a game-changer for global agriculture with Scigest host Hilary Ireland. Named PAR, the new gene allows natural reproduction by cloning in plants, enabling highly desirable traits to be carried through to the next generation rather than lost when the plants reproduce through pollination.

Hoki is one of the most important fish species for the NZ seafood industry. Understanding more about the populations of hoki around NZ is vitally important for the future management and conservation of the species. Andrew Dare speaks with scientists Maren Wellenreuther and David Chagné about the assembly of the hoki genome and how genomic tools were used to get insights into the population structure of this species. This new knowledge can be used to inform management of hoki stocks in New Zealand and showcases the power of genomic approaches in getting insights into the biology of hard to study aquatic species.

The nitrate debate is a hot topic in Aotearoa New Zealand. Farmers need efficient methods to mop up excess nitrogen and reduce leaching from our soils into our waterways. Scientist Brendon Malcolm talks with Scigest host Rebecca Bloomer about his catch crops for cleaner freshwater research and how reducing nitrogen through catch crops also provides an economic return for the farmer.

Emmanuel Chakwizira a crop scientist at Plant & Food Research talks to Nicola Sullivan about his fascinating journey from a family farm in Zimbabwe to helping out our farmers in New Zealand, and the many interesting steps to get there.

This week, Hilary Irelands talks to Data scientist Dr Peter McAtee about eliminating noisy data, his work implementing machine learning methodologies to analyse massive data sets, and how he is experimenting with using 3D lidar imaging in a biological context.

Entomology Research Associate Sophie Hunt talks about her journey into science, her career in insect rearing and biocontrol research, and how insects are really fascinating, even the ones that make some people cringe!

Microscopy has developed hugely in the last 40 years, becoming a vital tool for learning more about all living things. In this episode of Scigest, we talk to Microscopist Ian Hallet about his lifelong career utilising tools like electron microscopes, light microscopes and confocal microscopes to broaden our knowledge of subjects from fish to fruit.

New Zealand's main fruit industries depend upon producing high-quality, residue-free crops for export with a very low incidence of pest damage. In this episode of Scigest, Blue Plunkett talks to Dr Jim Walker, from the Plant & Food Research Ecological Pest Management team, about how the Light Brown Apple Moth, a major leafroller pest threatening our horticultural industry, was successfully controlled using natural enemies (parasitoids) as a biocontrol solution. By reducing the need for spraying, the return of spiders, cobwebs and earwigs to our orchards is a good sign of flourishing biodiversity.

How does an organism without a brain make decisions? What do kiwifruit and an orchestra have in common? Do PhD students really sleep? Today Dr Jay Jayaraman chats with Erin Stroud, a 3rd year PhD student, about her pathway into science and answers those weird questions you didn't know you needed the answers to. Erin is currently investigating how kiwifruit plants use defense hormone signaling to control how they respond to different types of pest and pathogen attack.

The world is currently saturated with news about the negative effects of viruses but viruses can also be beneficial and, in fact, are vital to the existence of all living things on this planet. This week Hilary Ireland speaks to Dr Robin MacDiarmid, a passionate plant virologist spreading the message about the amazing world of plant viruses and how beneficial they could be in the future for our food production.

Plants aren’t just plants. Like animals, they are hosts to a large and complex community of other living organisms, like fungi and bacteria, that can be both beneficial and detrimental to plant growth and health. This week Nicola Sullivan speaks to scientist Hayley Ridgway about the fascinating world of a plant microbiome including her research into the manuka microbiome which could have significant benefits for the manuka honey industry.

COVID unleashed a world of risk, frustration and delay for development agencies and those they partner with. But amongst the carnage, has the response of the past 18 months turned up anything positive apart from a carbon footprint cut for agencies? In this COVID special, we hear from two experts. Josie Pagani, executive director at the Council for International Development, the peak body for development agencies in NZ; and Suzie Newman, who heads the International Development Unit at Plant and Food Research.

The team fly south to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to see how farmers, designers, scientists and business owners are working together to grow safer, more valuable vegetables. They hear from a dedicated agri-advisor and enjoy the farm and beautiful voice of young Cambodian cucumber farmer and part-time crooner, Sim Sokhon.

How to persuade and train thousands of North Cambodian farmers to ditch rice and grow a range of higher value crops instead? To find out we’ll meet Clint Smythe, an unassuming Kiwi who has turbo-charged melon farmer incomes through smart collaborative marketing. And we’ll visit the small farm of Mai Puy, who has returned home from Thailand to become one of 400 farmers supported to grow high-value crops rather than rice. To see stunning drone footage of Mai’s farm, check out the video on the fromthisland.co.nz website.

Wara, Suzie and Phil head north to the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The attraction? An audacious bid by local firm Sam Agritech to become their country’s first major exporter of avocado. The firm is already a big exporter of black pepper - Vietnam grows a third of global production. Sam Agritech is now eye-ing the US$9.3 billion global market for avocado. It has gone 50-50 with the New Zealand Government to fund Plant & Food Research to help make its dream a reality.

In episode 1. Vietnam: Where giant strides are happening in growing and breeding the Asian delicacy – Dragon Fruit. New Zealand taxpayer money has enabled Vietnamese and Kiwi scientists to overcome dragon fruit’s crippling disease. Learn about dramatic improvements in growing practices, increased income for smallholder farmers, and breeding innovation to commercialise novel varieties of dragon fruit.

Peanut plants are a rare item in New Zealand even though we are big fan either as a snack or as peanut butter. But is that about to change? This week Jay Jayaraman speaks to Declan Graham, business manager at Plant & Food Research about the first harvest of peanuts up north and the potential for a peanut growing industry in a warming Northland.

Science has always been about collecting data and with the new data collection technologies today we can collect a massive amount. This all needs to be processed to make sense of it which is where a relatively new career of data scientist comes in. Today Hilary Ireland speaks to data scientist Dr Peter McAtee about his journey into a career as a data science. Look out for another podcast with Peter in the next few weeks where we delve into more detail on data science, what Peter is currently working on and the potential for data science in the future.

Insects, animals, plants all use the power of smell to communicate or facilitate reproduction. These smell chemicals are called semiochemicals and today Nicola Sullivan talks to scientist Lloyd Stringer about the use of these chemicals in our battle to protect NZ borders from invasive pests and how we go about discovering what they are and how to reproduce them.

Hilary Ireland is the latest addition to our scigest roster. She gets a taste of the hot seat when she shares her science journey as a late bloomer with host Jay Jayaraman. Hilary, now a research associate and third-year PhD student, didn't pursue a science degree until age 27. Let's hear about her research on Gillenia trifoliata and her advice for those pondering a career switch to science.

How to make science stand out in an age of information overload? In a reversal of roles scientist Tom Saunders interviews Communications Manager Emma Timewell about the fine line that science communicators walk on to present science in an accurate manner while keeping it accessible and engaging to the general public. She also discusses the role of science organisations in helping the public navigate controversial topics.

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 and saving the kiwifruit industry from the Psa outbreak, and the moment when she put on her "girl shoes" to fight for career advancement.

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 controversies around the subject.

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 scientist specialising in human pathogenic bacteria on food.

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. He also touches on topics like how the first cultivars came to New Zealand and how hermaphrodite kiwifruit would be commercially beneficial.

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 that can be used to detect diseases in humans and biosecurity threats.

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 far.

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 Ghanaian community in New Zealand.

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 change. Note: This was recorded before the outbreak of Covid-19 in New Zealand.

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 of crop monitoring, plant and insect biodiversity, and patience, in this increasingly popular method of pest management.

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 with enhanced nutrition.

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 and toothpaste to working with Richard Branson on his private island. This entertaining podcast also marks the 50th episode of scigest! Can't get enough? Stay tuned for part two when we delve deeper into Michelle's passion for science communications through her "Nano Girl Live" performances and "Nano Girl Labs", a company aiming to inspire, educate and empower through STEM.

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.