increase font size
The High-Value Nutrition Science Challenge are funding an investigation into native honey composition.
Plant & Food Research will be leading a national team of research looking at native honey composition and the characteristics that appeal most to consumers.
The funding for the project comes from the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge.
The two-year project focuses on prominent native monofloral (single flower nectar) honey – predominantly from kanuka, rata, rewarewa and kamahi – produced by Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa (TPT) beekeeping activities on Department of Conservation areas in the Rotorua region.
The project will analyse examples of honey from across the different geographical regions of the TPT rohe (territory/boundary) to search for specific chemical signatures and potential unique biomarkets.
It will determine the consistency and flavours of honey that consumers prefer, as well as consumer perceptions of Māori values and provenance.
“Honey and honey-related products account for more than $400 million of New Zealand’s export earnings each year,” says project co-lead Aaron McCallion from Waka Digital. “Mānuka honey is the primary honey export, valued for its unique bioactive properties. However, we believe that other native species may also produce honey with great taste and bioactives that will also appeal to consumers.
“Mānuka honey has scientifically-validated properties that consumers will pay a premium for,” says Dr John van Klink, project co-lead from Plant & Food Research.
Combined with advanced consumer insights, the new knowledge gleaned from the project will provide further awareness of the unique properties and consumer value of lesser-kknown honeys, and support the development of new monofloral honeys.
“This investment of over $980,000 from the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge fits well with our objective of supporting industrie with their growth aspirations through the application of science,” says Joanne Todd, challenge director.
The project brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts and scientists from Te Arawa and other iwi/hapu entities, Plant & Food Research, AgResearch, Massey University and Apiculture NZ to employ a collaborative bicultural approach.
A five-year New Zealand government-funded project to help Viet Nam build a more lucrative passionfruit industry was formally launched by the Prime Ministers of Viet Nam and New Zealand this week.
While confident that the apiculture sector can meet its target of doubling honey exports by 2030, chair of ApicultureNZ, Nathan Guy, says it will be challenging.
A recent Plant & Food Research study comparing the DNA of trees commonly called manuka in New Zealand and Australia has found such significant genetic differences between the two that the researchers are now recommending the two plants be designated as different species.
The inaugural New Zealand Wine Centre Scientific Research Conference was designed “by researchers for researchers”, says co-organiser Dr Stewart Field, Viticultural Researcher at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology .
A leading Plant and Food Research scientist is pleasantly surprised at how many apple trees in Hawke's Bay have recovered from the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle and other rains that hit the region this year.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
