Our science helps the world transition to new, more efficient, productive and safer agri-food systems.

Active Projects: 12

Our research

We have a long history of involvement in transformational initiatives that are usually the result of long-term projects involving many partners from business groups, iwi, communities and national agencies. They can occur within existing sectors or create completely new sectors, opportunities and markets.

We provide the underpinning science evidence to support the transformational agenda of the agri-food sector and aid transition to new agri-food systems that enhance societal and environmental conditions. We do this by:

  • Developing knowledge and technical capabilities that either disrupt existing competencies and technologies or complement them, to produce in new combinations
  • Developing new tools, processes and systems to enable implementation of effective practice and behaviour change
  • Designing interventions with policy and practice to support society-accepted transition pathways and transformation
  • Developing improved practice for monitoring and evaluation of impact within complex systems

The rate of change has never been so great for Aotearoa’s food and fibre producers, and we need to support them to meet that change.

Senior Scientist James Turner

Fit for a Better World

Fit for a Better World is a 10-year work programme committed to building a more sustainable, productive and inclusive food and fibre sector.

It proposes a new pathway founded on the wellbeing of te taiao – the natural world – and on genuine and transformative partnerships.

AgResearch is working on some of the underpinning science, knowledge and technologies and working alongside central and local Government, food and fibre businesses and workers, Māori, industry organisations, environmental organisations, universities, other Crown Research Institutes, investors and wider communities.

  • Additional capabilities

    • Providing transformative and transdisciplinary research approaches that practically equip stakeholders to design and deliver the type of programmes that respond to complex societal challenges.
    • Establishing links and connections between existing research and bodies of knowledge and new related transformational initiatives.
    • Assisting stakeholders to share learning and build capacity and capability to develop and strengthen relationships with Māori partners and te ao Māori.
    • Providing combinations of knowledge and technical capabilities to realise the future agri-food sector.
    • Developing new tools, processes, and systems to effectively progress to the future.
    • Designing policies and practices for society-supported pathways to the future.
    • Integrating and coordinating transformational changes.

Science Areas

Transforming Sectors

Providing the underpinning science evidence to support the transformational agenda of the agri-food sector and aid transition to new agri-food systems that enhance societal and environmental conditions.

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Send an email to one of our team or check out our facilities located across Aotearoa New Zealand.

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