Thursday, 03 December 2015 15:51

Three new million-dollar projects for AgResearch

Written by 
What the three projects have in common is being successful in the just-announced High Value Nutrition contestable funding round. What the three projects have in common is being successful in the just-announced High Value Nutrition contestable funding round.

Beef that can reduce cholesterol levels, milk that reduces the risk of allergies in children and cows' milk for the dairy-intolerant are the aims of three new AgResearch projects.

What the three projects have in common is being successful in the just-announced High Value Nutrition contestable funding round.

"The High Value Nutrition Science Challenge's focus is on foods with scientifically validated health benefits, and that's exactly what these are. We're looking at how we can increase value for New Zealand through proven health claims for our food and beverage exports," says AgResearch research director, professor Warren McNabb.

All three projects are funded for three years with $1m each from the challenge, as well as co-investment from industry partners.

"Complex beef lipids for metabolic health" is led by Dr Emma Bermingham. She says meat from grass-fed animals may contain bioactive complex lipids that have the potential to improve metabolic health.

"We want to provide robust scientific evidence that consuming complex lipids extracted from New Zealand grass-fed meat will lead to reduced cholesterol levels," says Bermingham.

Reducing the risks of developing allergies in children is the aim of the project "Natural protection of milk" led by Dr Alison Hodgkinson. The project is in partnership with Miraka, a Maori-owned dairy processing and exporting company looking to expand their business by diversifying into higher-value dairy products.

The third project, "a2 Milk for gut comfort" is aimed at demonstrating the health benefits of a2 Milk for people who believe they are intolerant to cows' milk and is led by Dr Matthew Barnett.

"We will be running human clinical studies to confirm the benefits of dairy products that are exclusively of the A2 protein type on increased gut comfort through preventing intestinal inflammation in some consumers," says Barnett.

Today's announcement follows AgResearch's success in the Priority Research programme, where it receives $3.6m for research into the relationship between nutrition and gut health.

More like this

Grasslanz scoops top science award

The Government's plan to merge the seven crown institutes presents exciting possibilities for plant technology company Grasslanz Technology, says chief executive Megan Skiffington.

Featured

Editorial: Time for common sense

OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

JD's precision essentials

Farmers across New Zealand are renowned for their productivity and efficiency, always wanting to do more with less, while getting…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Are they serious?

OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…

A hurry up!

OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter