{{Short description|New Zealand Crown Research Institute}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{cleanup press release|1=article|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox government agency | agency_name = Plant & Food Research | nativename_r = Rangahau Ahumāra Kai | logo = Plant_&_Food_Research_logo.svg | logo_width = 220px | image = Plant & Food Research 20250925 091336.jpg | image_caption = Mt Albert Research Centre in Auckland, New Zealand | logo_caption = | seal = | seal_width = | seal_caption = | formed = 2008 | preceding1 = [[HortResearch]] and [[New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research|Crop and Food Research]] | dissolved = 30 June 2025 | superseding1 = [[New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science]] | jurisdiction = | headquarters = 120 Mt Albert Road, [[Sandringham, New Zealand|Sandringham]], [[Auckland]] | employees = | budget = | minister1_name = | minister1_pfo = | minister2_name = | minister2_pfo = | chief1_name = Mark Piper | chief1_position = CEO | chief2_name = [[Nicola Shadbolt]] | chief2_position = Chair | parent_agency = | child1_agency = | website = {{Official URL|https://plantandfood.co.nz}} | footnotes = | chief3_name = | chief3_position = | chief4_name = | chief4_position = | chief5_name = | chief5_position = | chief6_name = | chief6_position = | chief7_name = | chief7_position = | chief8_name = | chief8_position = | chief9_name = | chief9_position = | parent_department = }}
'''Plant & Food Research''' ([[Māori language|Māori]]: '''Rangahau Ahumāra Kai''') was a New Zealand [[Crown Research Institute]] (CRI) that is now part of the [[New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science]]. Its purpose was to enhance the value and productivity of New Zealand's horticultural, arable, seafood and food and beverage industries. The interests of the institute were based in horticulture, arable and seafood research, specifically in the areas of sustainable production, bioprotection, elite genetics and intelligent breeding, food and health science and biomaterials; these have moved into the [[New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.treasury.govt.nz/statesector/commercial/portfolio/bytype/cris/new-zealand-institute-plant-food-research| title=The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd| publisher=The Treasury| date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/d/directory-of-official-information-2013/alphabetical-list-of-entries/i/institute-for-plant-and-food-research-limited-new-zealand| title=Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, New Zealand| publisher=Ministry of Justice| work=Directory of Official Information| date=2013}}</ref>
The institute was formed on 1 December 2008 by merging existing CRIs [[HortResearch]] and [[New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research|Crop and Food Research]].<ref>{{cite press release| url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister-welcomes-new-crown-research-institute| title=Minister welcomes new Crown Research Institute| first=Wayne| last=Mapp| date=1 December 2008}}</ref> Plant & Food has over 900 staff based at sites throughout New Zealand as well as science and business development staff working in the United States, [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and Australia. The New Zealand Government disestablished the institute and its sister CRIs [[AgResearch]], [[Scion (organisation)|Scion]], and [[Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research|Manaaki Whenua]] to create the [[New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science]] on 1 July 2025.<ref name="Beehive 14 May 2025">{{Cite web |date=14 May 2025 |title=Bold science reforms to fuel economic growth |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bold-science-reforms-fuel-economic-growth |access-date=14 May 2025 |website=www.beehive.govt.nz|publisher=[[New Zealand Government]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250524102716/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bold-science-reforms-fuel-economic-growth|archive-date=24 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
==History== On 1 October 2021, Plant & Food Research commenced an even joint venture with [[Zespri]]: the [[Zespri#Kiwifruit Breeding Centre|Kiwifruit Breeding Centre]].<ref name="plantfood-kiwibreeding1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/article/new-kiwifruit-breeding-centre-driving-greater-innovation-to-commence-in-2021|title=New Kiwifruit Breeding Centre driving greater innovation to commence in 2021|date=12 August 2021|website=Plant & Food Research|language=en-nz|access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="zespri-kiwibreeding1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.zespri.com/en-NZ/newsroomdetail/Kiwifruit-Breeding-Centre-CEO|title=Dr Matt Glenn named inaugural Kiwifruit Breeding Centre CEO|date=31 August 2021|website=Zespri|language=en-nz|access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="RNZ-kiwibreeding1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/431959/zespri-aiming-for-crown-research-partnership-to-develop-new-kiwifruit-varieties|title=Zespri aiming for Crown research partnership to develop new kiwifruit varieties |last=Burry|first=Maja|date=2 December 2020|work=[[RNZ]] |access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref> The research and development centre, based in [[Te Puke]] and also operating out of [[Kerikeri]], [[Motueka]] and [[Mount Albert, New Zealand|Mt Albert]],<ref name="BOPT-kiwibreeding1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/new-kiwifruit-breeding-centre-confirmed-for-bay-of-plenty/NY2UZBKKRWED6TGX5Y7QDBBHOA/ |title=New kiwifruit breeding centre confirmed for Bay of Plenty |date=12 August 2021|work=Bay of Plenty Times|access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref> is focused on improving kiwifruit breeding and cultivation. The initial aims are to develop kiwifruit varieties that are healthier, better tasting, and more sustainable for the environment.<ref name="RNZ-kiwibreeding1" /> Matt Glenn is the inaugural CEO of the centre.<ref name="zespri-kiwibreeding1" />
On 14 May 2025, [[Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology]] [[Shane Reti]] announced that Plant & Food Research would be integrated into a new [[Public Research Organisation]] called the [[New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science]] from 1 July.<ref name="Beehive 14 May 2025" />
== Notable staff == *[[Trish Fraser]], soil scientist *[[Jasna Rakonjac]], microbiologist *[[Ian Warrington]], horticultural scientist and science administrator *[[Maren Wellenreuther]], marine scientist
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|plantandfood.co.nz}}
{{NZ crown entities/crown entity companies}} {{Science and Research in New Zealand}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plant and Food Research}} [[Category:State-owned research organisations in New Zealand]] [[Category:Food science institutes]] [[Category:Horticultural organizations]] [[Category:2008 establishments in New Zealand]] [[Category:Organisations based in Auckland]]