SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY
Science and innovation are key strategic goals for NZ Plant Producers – creating knowledge and tools that provide tangible value to our members.
NZ Plant Producers’ Science & Innovation Strategy covers all aspects of plant production from biosecurity, through genetics, growing plants, media, mechanisation and sustainability to the nursery gate. It is organised into five strategic themes:
- Sustainable plant production systems
- Improved diagnostics for assessing plant health and detecting pathogens
- Enhanced soil health, plant quality and vigour
- Knowledge transfer to NZ Plant Producers members
- Biosecurity
Operating under delegation of the NZPPI Board, the Science & Innovation Subcommittee is responsible for the governence of our Science and Innovation Strategy. The Subcommittee meets three times each year to identify research opportunities, to prioritise investment and leverage funding.
The members of the NZPPI Science and Innovation Subcommittee are
- Sarah Williamson, Customer & Technical Support, Lynwood Avocado Nursery Ltd
- Nick Hoskins, Vineyard Manager, Riversun Nursery Ltd
- Clive Kaiser, Associate Professor of Horticulture, Lincoln University
- Jane Straka, Scrub Growers
- Dave Harris , Manager Container, Propagation & Future Production Systems, Waimea Group
- Devin Westley, Nursery Manager, Southern Woods
- Hayden Green, Chief Executive Officer, Genesis Nurseries
- Nathan Hewson, Managing Director, Advanced Hort
- Bill Dyck, NZ’s Biological Heritage NSC Knowledge Broker
- Dr Geoff Ridley, Biota Portfolio Leader, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
- Heidi Dungey, Science Leader – Forestry Genetics, Scion
- Simeon Smaill, Forestry Scientist and Portfolio Leader for Establishing Indigenous Forests - Scion
Observers
- Keith Roberts, Titoki Nursery
- Jacky Friedman, General Manager, Appleton’s Tree Nursery