scigest - Plant & Food Research podcast

What does it take to deliver sustainable livelihoods for growers, green international shipping, and support healthy nutrition around the globe? In this episode of People Planet Food, host Roger Robson-Williams  talks to Rachel Depree, Executive Officer for Sustainability at Zespri International – the world's largest marketer of kiwifruit – to explore these and other topics.   Rachel shares her journey to leading sustainability in one of Aotearoa's biggest export industries and offers thoughtful insights on the environmental and social responsibilities facing global horticulture today. For more information about sustainability initiatives at Zespri see: www.zespri.com/en-NZ/zespri-sustainability.   To view our catalogue of podcasts, including extra links on some podcasts, head to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

The skin of fruit serves more than just a protective barrier; it acts as nature's packaging—the first element we notice, touch, and often judge. In this episode, scientist and host Hilary Ireland chats with molecular scientist Mikaela Douglas to explore what lies beneath the surface of fruit skins. They discuss how genetic research is enabling scientists to refine the appearance, texture, and functionality of fruit skins to better appeal to consumers, enhance health benefits, reduce pesticide use, and minimise food waste. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Food futurist Jack Bobo joins scientist Hilary Ireland to explore the future of food production. From the impact of agriculture on the planet to the promise of new technologies like gene editing, Jack shares insights on how we can build sustainable food systems while earning consumer trust. With a background in law, policy and behavioural science, he unpacks the role of communication in shifting perceptions and tackling misinformation about what we eat and how it's made. To view our full catalogue of podcasts please see our Scigest pages at: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Most growers and home gardeners don't view thrips positively, but perhaps we could change your perspective. This week, data scientist and podcaster Tom Moore speaks to entomologist Mette Nielsen about her career in entomology, particularly her research on the many species of thrips in Aotearoa New Zealand. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Most people are already familiar with products like oat milk and almond butter, but what about barley yoghurt? Scientists at Plant & Food Research are developing a new plant-based product: yoghurt made from barley grain.    In this week's podcast, scientist and podcast host Rebecca Campbell speaks to food scientist Gert-Jan Moggre about this exciting project. The research involves trials using plant-based bacterial fermentation to create a delicious and well-textured yoghurt alternative. This dairy-free yoghurt offers numerous benefits, including being high in dietary fibre, producing less waste, and being more sustainable to produce. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

People | Planet | Food - Host Roger Robson-Williams speaks with sustainability experts Saskia Verraes and Martin Rich about the future they aspire to create through their work. They discuss the encouraging signs of progress in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the globe. Amid rising illiberalism, increasing geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and an unstable climate, this episode offers a chance to reflect on how we can cultivate a more prosperous future for everyone. It also celebrates some of the outstanding initiatives already in progress. This episode serves as an invitation to hope and take action. To explore our full catalogue of podcasts, visit our Scigest page: www.plantandfood.com/scigest.

Gene editing is a new technology with the potential to breed new crops faster. With changing regulations worldwide on how gene editing can be incorporated into food production systems, what does it actually take to gene edit a plant crop?   This week Scigest host and scientist Jay Jayaraman speaks to Zac Hanley, GM Science – New Cultivar Innovation about the science of gene editing plants. They talk about the process of gene editing, some of the challenges in using the technology and how gene editing could help develop the plant varieties of the future. For more about the use of gene technologies in food production, see https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/gene-technologies. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

People | Planet | Food – In this episode, host Roger Robson-Williams chats with friend and colleague Stephen Wallace, Sustainability Manager at AgResearch and Plant & Food Research, Stephen shares his journey into sustainability, sparked by a passion for the environment and early efforts to combat food waste in the workplace. He offers insights into his collaborations with senior leadership to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and vehicles, emphasising the importance of reducing gross emissions and the role of carbon offsetting in climate strategies. The episode wraps up with practical advice on how individuals can contribute to a healthier planet, ensuring thriving ecosystems and healthy, sustainable food for all. To view our full catalogue of podcasts go to our Scigest page: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Success in international development projects requires not only a variety of skills, including project management, people, and technical skills, but also a commitment to see jobs through and meet every challenge, which can be considerable in some of the less developed regions around the world. In this podcast, scientist and podcaster Hilary Ireland speaks to international development specialist Suzie Newman about her role in leading the successful International Development Team at Plant & Food Research.  To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

People | Planet | Food – in this episode, host Roger Robson-Williams delves into the innovative world of modern steam power with Jack Donaldson from Mackwell and Co., a Christchurch-based start-up pioneering advanced steam technology for farm machinery. Together, they explore how replacing diesel with biomass could revolutionise energy use in food production, offering a sustainable and resilient alternative. The conversation spans the future of energy for businesses and communities, the surprising potential of steam engines in enhancing energy sovereignty, and the importance of equipping future generations with the tools and skills to thrive in a changing world. Don't miss this inspiring discussion about rethinking power in the food system. To view our full catalogue of podcasts go to our Scigest page: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Cellular agriculture is an evolving technology where animal meat is grown in a lab using just their cells. This process is potentially an important way of producing animal protein in a sustainable and ethical manner. Plant & Food Research are exploring this technology to grow fish meat and is an important part of our overall fish research at our Nelson site where this recording is from. This week Scigest host and scientist Julie Blommaert speaks to Georgina Dowd about her research on cellular agriculture, the risk and rewards and also the potential for this technology in the future. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Geoinformatics is the analysis of spatial data using technology to understand and solve real-world problems. Scientist and Scigest podcast host Dion Mundy speaks to fellow Scientist Rebecca Campbell about her journey into geoinformatics and her expertise in analysing spatial aspects of data. Rebecca also talks about her experience as a recipient of the prestigious MBIE Science Whitinga Fellowship and the benefits that this Fellowship has provided her in her career so far. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Plant elicitors have huge potential to help protect New Zealand crops from disease. Acting much like a vaccine, these elicitors allow plants to defend themselves better against disease. Coming from a biological source like seaweed, they offer a more ecologically friendly crop protection option, too. This week James Sainsbury from our Ruakura site speaks to Dr Joel Vanneste about his research on the recently Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment-funded, 5-year project on plant elicitors led by Dr Marie Magnuson and Chris Glasson from Waikato University. Listen along to learn more about plant elicitors and how they could help manage plant diseases, whether in crops or our native trees. To view our catalogue of podcasts, including extra links on some podcasts, please go to our Scigest page: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

People | Planet | Food - Roger Robson-Williams speaks with Mike Casey, about producing cherries without using fossil fuels and running a charity called Rewiring Aotearoa. They discuss what it takes to build a fully electrified orchard and the emerging opportunities for farmers and growers to help address growing demand for renewable power. Mike explains how Rewiring Aotearoa is helping kiwis save money on energy bills, reduce their carbon emissions, and have the resilience to keep their lights on and homes warm. This episode highlights the changing relationship between energy, food production, and the everyday decisions we all make about how to live our lives. For further information on Rewiring Aotearoa see: www.rewiring.nz To view our full catalogue of podcasts go to our Scigest page: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

AI has captured everyone's attention and clearly has the potential to be a very important tool for our scientists in the future, but there are still a lot of learnings about the benefits and risks of this technology. Podcaster James Sainsbury speaks to Data Scientist Sam Birch about two projects that utilise computer vision, a field making heavy use of the recent improvements in AI. They discuss how this technology has benefited his work and why, like all tools, it still needs to be used with care and awareness of its limitations.   For more information on AI and data science from some of our data science team please listen to a previous podcast,  “A leap into data science” https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/article/a-leap-into-data-science. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

People | Planet | Food - Roger Robson-Williams speaks with Catherine Leeper, a Learning Advisor at Climate Action Campus Ōtautahi, about the importance of empowering rangatahi (young people) to take action on climate change. Catherine talks about her farming roots, her journey to Aotearoa New Zealand, and the initiatives of the Climate Action Campus, particularly in educating students about sustainability and promoting fairer, healthier, and environmentally restorative futures. They explore the importance of this for improving the mental health of our children and teenagers. Catherine also shares some of the awesome sustainability hacks she's practising in her family life. To learn more please see: www.climateaction.school.nz. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Aotearoa New Zealand has many native solitary bees, but not much is known about them. In this Scigest episode, newly-minted podcaster and apiculture scientist James Sainsbury speaks to entomologist Anna Kokeny about her research on our little-known native bees. They also discuss Anna's career journey and share tips for budding scientists. Anna is a dedicated science communicator and has joined the scigest team as our podcaster based at our Hawkes Bay site. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

People | Planet | Food - Roger Robson-Williams speaks with Kate Meyer, Founder and CEO of the Planetary Accounting Network (PAN). This small not-for-profit organisation from Wānaka is dedicated to translating cutting-edge earth systems science into actionable plans that help individuals, businesses, and governments operate within global environmental limits. Kate shares her journey from avid skier to the creator of Planetary Accounting, a scientifically robust method for understanding how to live within our fair share of the planet's finite resources. We also explore the potential of 'Planetary Facts' labels on food and other products and discuss how this New Zealand start-up is impacting policy discussions across Europe. To learn more please see: www.planetaryaccounting.org/planetary-facts. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Over the last 25 years, genetic techniques have rapidly evolved. In this episode of Scigest, scientists Blue Plunkett and Dr Revel Drummond provide a brief guide to the latest gene technologies. What is a null segregant? What is CRISPR-Cas9? How do these cutting-edge tools differ from earlier GMO technologies? Note: Since we recorded this Dame Juliet Gerrard who is mentioned in the podcast has left the role of Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

For nearly 40 years, retiring scientist Rob Agnew has dedicated his career to logging and analysing the changing weather patterns in the Marlborough region. In this episode of Scigest, our new podcaster, Dion Mundy, sits down with Rob Agnew to explore his impactful career from his work in protecting the wine industry through meteorological trend studies, forecasting, and examining the long-term effects of climate change. Rob also shares insights from his role as the author of VineFacts, a crucial resource for wine growers since its inception in 1997. Tune in for an engaging conversation about the intersection of science and viticulture. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Redback spiders have established populations in Central Otago and Taranaki, posing a threat to human health and taonga native species such as the critically endangered Cromwell chafer beetle. We talk to Chemist Dr Andrew Twidle, who is leading the development of a pheromone tool to eradicate these invasive redback spiders, the first attempt in the world to control pest spiders using pheromones. The project is supported by Lincoln University, local iwi, and the Department of Conservation. Find more of our biosecurity, disease, and insect science Scigest podcasts on our website: www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/biosecurity-disease-and-insect-science. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Join us for the latest insights from a comprehensive global study on consumer preferences, following up on our initial Future Urban Consumer podcast from October last year. Understanding consumer attitudes is crucial when developing new food technologies and farming systems. Plant & Food Research's Future Urban Consumer programme delves into how consumers in Aotearoa New Zealand, and international markets perceive emerging food technologies and the factors influencing these perceptions. In this episode, Hilary Ireland interviews social scientist Brian Lin to explore recent findings from the research, highlighting the benefits of combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Listen to the first part of this series at http://www.plantandfood.com/article/the-future-urban-consumer, or find it in your podcast provider's Scigest list from October 13, 2023. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

In this episode of People | Planet | Food, Roger Robson-Williams speaks with Brendan O'Connell, Chief Executive of AgritechNZ, to discuss the role of agritech in creating a healthier, fairer, and more environmentally friendly food system. Brendan shares his perspective on what agritech is, how it can help, and how AgritechNZ supports a diverse range of businesses operating in this area. Together, they delve into the potential of agritech, the challenges of its adoption, and the potential unintended consequences if it's not used wisely. As always with People | Planet | Food, they also explore what we all can do to ensure we have healthy people living on a healthy planet and consuming nutritious food. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

New technologies are essential in helping scientists and growers combat vine diseases in vineyards. This week, podcaster and data scientist Tom Moore interviews vine doctor Dion Mundy about his latest research on plant disease monitoring, disease identification, and modelling for future climate changes. Dion was one of our first interviews on Scigest five years ago, and we are delighted he has joined the Scigest podcast team and will be recording some of the exciting science stories emerging from our Marlborough (viticulture) and Motueka (berries, hops, and kiwifruit) sites. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

Plant & Food Research's Nelson site is home to Aotearoa New Zealand's largest flume tank, an innovative facility that allows scientists to test and develop new technologies in both simulated open ocean and controlled laboratory environments. In this week's podcast, Julie Blommaert sits down with fellow scientists Suzy Black and Louise Kregting to discuss the exciting research applications of the new flume tank. Their conversation covers a range of topics, including advancements in aquatic design, open ocean aquaculture, sustainable seafood capture, and harvesting technology. This episode is Julie's third podcast with the Nelson team, her last interview being with Suzy on mobile aquaculture in February 2024. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

In this episode of the People | Planet | Food podcast series, host Roger Robson-Williams talks to Martin Rich, a former investment banker turned Chief Executive of the UK's Future-Fit Foundation. Martin shares his journey from international finance to earth systems science and doughnut economics and explains why he now leads a sustainability charity. Roger and Martin discuss what it means for organisations to become future-fit and why this is important for the food system. They also explore what we all can do to ensure we have healthy people living on a healthy planet and consuming nutritious food. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest.

What would it take to make the global food system healthier, fairer, and more environmentally restorative? I am delighted to start my People | Planet | Food series in conversation with two remarkable leaders from opposite sides of the planet working on exactly this issue. In this episode I am speaking to Sue Pritchard, the Chief Executive of the UK's Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, and Angela Clifford, the Chief Executive of Eat New Zealand. Sue also has an organic livestock farm in Wales and Angela has a permaculture farm in North Canterbury. We unpack what their organisations are doing to connect citizens with where their food comes from. We discuss emerging threats to food system resilience. And we explore what individual citizens can do to ensure we have healthy people living on a healthy planet and eating healthy food. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra information on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest

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

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