NZ scientists make breakthrough in Facial Eczema research
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
The Government's plan to merge the seven crown institutes presents exciting possibilities for plant technology company Grasslanz Technology, says chief executive Megan Skiffington.
Grasslanz is a subsidiary of AgResearch.
The Government announced earlier this year that the seven Crown Research Institutes will soon be merged into new Public Research Organisations, including one that includes AgResearch and is focused on the bioeconomy.
Skiffington says this will allow Grasslanz to grow its reach and seize other opportunities to bolster the primary sector. This includes opportunities using technologies such as genetic modification and gene editing and beyond.
"We know that farmers and growers do better when backed by great science. With our partners, Grasslanz has delivered that impact on the ground.
"We think we will be able to bring even more value to the new Public Research Organisation with our proven business model, helping a larger pool of scientists to provide solutions to those farmers and growers," she says.
Her comments came as Grasslanz won the supreme honour at the 2025 Science New Zealand Awards this month.
The award is in recognition of its record of introducing valuable new types of pasture and related technologies that have helped livestock industries to thrive. Among these is the commercialisation of the AR27 Epichloë endophyte developed by AgResearch scientists, which provides resistance to pests and has been independently estimated as contributed $3.6 billion to the New Zealand economy over the life of its 20-year patent.
"This award is a real credit to the many people who have been a part of the enduring success of Grasslanz Technology," says Skiffington.
"That means everyone from the science teams who made the discoveries and did the research, through to those who partnered with us because they believed in turning this research into products that farmers and growers can use to enhance the productivity and sustainability of agriculture in this country."
The chairs of the Judging Panels for the Science New Zealand Awards, who selected the Supreme Award winner, said Grasslanz Technology stood out "because of its contribution to the growth of the New Zealand economy through excellent science directed to solve issues faced by the primary sector in an economically and environmentally sustainable fashion".
The Science New Zealand Awards celebrate the best of the science and its impacts across New Zealand's Crown Research Institutes and Callaghan Innovation.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
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