scigest - Bioeconomy Science Institute podcasts

188 episodes

Tree talk: Establishing natives and managing wilding pine spread (FTL)
23/03/2026
Indigenous trees are vital for environmental health and biodiversity, and Aotearoa New Zealand has bold plans to re-establish them. Scientist and Scigest host Nicola Sullivan talks to invasion ecologist and establishing indigenous forests portfolio lead Tom Carlin about this work and why managing the spread of wilding pines is a key part of it.

For links to a Farmers Weekly podcast on "Bringing down the cost of planting natives" and a Newsroom article on wilding pines in the South Island high country please view our Scigest page for this podcast on: https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/from-the-land
The Arctic Apple story (NT)
09/03/2026
Arctic Apples are one of the first fruits globally developed using gene technologies. Available for consumers in the USA since 2017, the Arctic series includes a modified gene that stops apples browning, making them perfect for a pre-sliced snack. Okanagan Specialty Fruits, the developers of Arctic Apples, are looking at how they can incorporate new gene technologies into their product development. Scientist and podcaster Hilary Ireland talks to their Vice President of Research & Regulatory Affairs, Dr Muhammad Tahir, about the origins and development of this technology, as well as looking at future developments for the technology.
To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest
Endophytes – the little microorganism making a big difference (FTL)
23/02/2026
Pasture plays a vital role in many farming systems by providing essential feed for the livestock that support our food and fibre industries. But what we see is just the surface, the health of pasture is intrinsically linked to a family of microorganisms called endophytes that live within plants.
In this episode of Scigest, we explore the remarkable role of endophytes and how they influence pasture performance, plant resilience and livestock systems in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Scientist and podcaster Dr Jay Jayaraman is joined by principle scientist Dr Linda Johnson, who leads a team of researchers unlocking the potential of these powerful microorganisms, identifying the endophytes best suited to New Zealand’s farming systems. Their work has delivered real-world impact on farms and was recognised with the 2024 Prime Minister’s Science Prize.
To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest
Hyperseeds: Embracing AI to find solutions for NZ's seed industry (NT)
09/02/2026
Principal Scientist Marlon dos Reis joins host Rebecca Bloomer to explore how the Bioeconomy Science Institute is using advanced technology to help solve a critical bottleneck in the seed industry: the time-consuming and labour-intensive nature of traditional seed quality assessment. They discuss our collaboration with the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) and the successful development of a system using hyperspectral imaging and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to pre-screen seeds for contaminants.
To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest
Finding a moth in a haystack - The important role of citizen scientists (BDIS)
25/01/2026
Aotearoa New Zealand’s next biosecurity threat might not arrive by ship or plane — it could already be in the air.
In this episode of scigest, scientist and host Ki-Taurangi Bradford speaks with biosecurity scientist Dr Toni Withers about the invisible wind pathway carrying pests across the Tasman.
 Toni explains how moths, butterflies and plant pathogens can travel vast distances on air currents, how new forecasting models are predicting when and where incursions may occur, and how interceptions on offshore platforms help test these predictions.   The episode also explores the vital role of volunteer citizen scientists and the use of isotope analysis to trace where intercepted insects originate.
Blown Away web pages: https://bit.ly/4q65ZT0.
To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest.

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About scigest - Bioeconomy Science Institute podcasts

Welcome to Scigest - podcast-sized servings of digestible science from the Bioeconomy Science Institute. Join us as we explore the advancements and impact our scientists are making in advancing innovation in agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, biotechnology and manufacturing; protecting ecosystems from biosecurity threats and climate risks; and developing new bio-based technologies and products. Listen to our scientists as they share and discuss current research in Aotearoa New Zealand, and beyond in this award-winning podcast collection. Make sure to visit www.plantandfood.com/scigest for even more information on Scigest! To help you discover the podcast topics and research that interests you, Scigest is split into series, each covering different scientific topics. The series are as follows: PPF: People|Planet|Food FTS: From the sea FTL: From the land BDIS: Biosecurity, disease and insect science STK: Science in the kitchen NT: New technologies ID: International development SLFM: Science life for me (Our people) SMAS: Science movers and shakers SIS: Starting in science

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