Biotechnology Research
Biotechnology is of special interest to New Zealand because of our strong primary industry focused economy. There are opportunities for biotechnology to add value to our key exports of products such as dairy products, meat, wool and wood.
Some of the goals of research and development in New Zealand are:
- health benefits, such as the development of vaccines for asthma and psoriasis
- treatments for genetic disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis
- developing improved resistance to forest diseases, such as those infecting Pinus Radiata
- enhanced wood quality - research is underway to genetically engineer pines and eucalypts that have enhanced wood quality (fibre strength, reduced number of lateral branches)
- superior genetic stocks of farmed animals, through cloning, genetic modification and selective breeding through gene mapping
- development of genetically modified crops with enhanced resistance as well as improved nutritional qualities in food
- fruit and flower development e.g. Zespri's newly released 'KiwiGold' kiwifruit with its novel yellow flesh
- biocontrol of possums, including hormonal control, interfering with lactation, increasing susceptibility to disease, fertility control and contraception
- helping to save endangered native species through the development of cloning technologies and gene mapping for successful breeding programs - some of the species being researched include the endangered Chatham Islands Black Robin, Kakapo and Kiwi
- better understanding of the social and environmental effects of genetically modified organisms (as recommended by the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification). See here for background on our work on the recommendations on research priorities.