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Taewa (Māori potatoes) – introduction

Taewa are traditional potato varieties grown by early Māori settlers in New Zealand. Find out how researchers are now developing unique food products from taewa. Taewa were introduced to New ...

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ARTICLE

Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals are naturally occurring, biologically active chemical compounds in plants. The prefix ‘phyto’ is from a Greek word meaning plant. The presence of certain types of phytochemicals in ...

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ARTICLE

Breeding red-fleshed apples – introduction

Find out how and why a red-fleshed apple variety is being bred in New Zealand, and discover how genetic information, consumer research and sensory science are all involved. Rights: Plant & ...

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ACTIVITY

Consumer research on future apples

In this activity, students conduct focus group research to generate consumer feedback on a proposed future apple variety. The activity forms part of the unit plan Developing future apple ...

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ACTIVITY

Instrumental firmness test

In this activity, students test and compare the firmness of different apple varieties using an instrumental method adapted for the classroom. The activity forms part of the unit plan Developing ...

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ACTIVITY

What’s on a label?

In this activity students identify and analyse the information found on existing food labels. Purpose Students are asked to identify and analyse the information found on existing food labels to ...

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CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT

Myrtle Rust Reporter

Myrtle rust is a serious biosecurity threat, and help is needed to monitor its spread. This citizen science project aims to gather information on the location, hosts and intensity of this fungal ...

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CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT

Find-A-Pest

The free Find-A-Pest app makes it easy to report and identify possible pest species. Wherever you are, you can help protect Aotearoa New Zealand’s primary industries and native species in two ...

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CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT

Global Earth Challenge

Be part of a worldwide movement and use Global Earth Challenge to submit or classify photos to help our planet’s environment and human health. Global Earth Challenge is a citizen science campaign ...

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TEACHER PLD

Developing future apple varieties – unit plan

In this unit, students investigate trends and drivers and what may be possible and preferable attributes for new fruit varieties in the future. Purpose To understand the influences currently ...

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TEACHER PLD

Visit to a lavender farm – case study

A Year 9 class visited a local lavender farm as part of a biotechnology unit investigating the production, packaging and marketing of lavender oil for aromatherapy. The purpose of the field trip ...

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TEACHER PLD

Design a label for a taewa product – unit plan

Students develop knowledge of prototype taewa products and design a label that reflects the cultural value and specified market for the product. Purpose Understand the attributes and benefits of ...

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Explore related videos

VIDEO

Phytochemicals – plants’ chemical treasure trove

Dr David Stevenson, a senior scientist with Plant & Food Research, defines the term phytochemical and explains some of the actions a class of phytochemicals called polyphenols have within the ...

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VIDEO

Identifying opportunities for taewa

Food technologists are developing new taewa products that will increase the value and demand for taewa crops. Identifying opportunities requires innovators who constantly think of new ideas and ...

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VIDEO

Leaft Foods

New Zealand company Leaft Foods has developed technology to extract rubisco, a high-value protein found in leafy greens. The company is scaling up the technology while developing food products ...

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INTERACTIVE

Detecting myrtle rust in New Zealand

This timeline follows the discovery of the fungal disease myrtle rust and its spread throughout New Zealand.

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INTERACTIVE

Assessing apple attributes

About 45 different attributes are assessed at various stages of developing a new apple cultivar at Plant & Food Research. Click on the labels in this interactive to learn about some of these ...

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INTERACTIVE

Making a transgenic plant

This interactive illustrates a technique used by scientists to generate transgenic plants.

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