Biotechnology Research Roadmap - Science and Innovation

Food and Beverage Taskforce 50 The government has also recognised the important
role of the food and beverage industry in New Zealand’s
economy. A Food and Beverage Taskforce has been
commissioned to recommend actions that will help the
industry adapt and grow in the future. As part of this
process the Taskforce has considered the role of research
and innovation in production improvement and new
product innovation.
The Taskforce report back signals that biotechnology
research is likely to play an important part in strategic
approaches to food innovation. A significant future
opportunity for food and beverage biotechnology is
seen to be the convergence between food and health.
The government’s response to the Taskforce’s
recommendations is pending (as of November 2006).
Government Biodiversity Strategy (2000) 51 New Zealand’s Biodiversity Strategy mentions
capability strategies
biotechnology explicitly as both a threat and an
opportunity. An opportunity as a source of new pest
control methods, a way of extracting economic advantage
from biodiversity, and as a potential threat to biodiversity
via the release of genetically-modified organisms.
The strategy identifies two main areas where research
is required: (1) general information-gathering on
indigenous biodiversity, particularly marine and
freshwater biodiversity (for example, taxonomy,
monitoring, distribution, patterns of gene flow, ecosystem
function, management of threats); and (2) development
of new technologies and techniques to combat threats
from introduced pests.
Biotechnology research enables us to better identify,
understand, manage and conserve our biodiversity.
Biosecurity Strategy (2003) 52 The crucial importance of science in underpinning
biosecurity policy formulation and decision making
is strongly stated in the New Zealand Biosecurity Strategy.
The Strategy highlights the need for science to have
a strengthened contribution in the future. A Biosecurity
Science, Research and Technology Strategy is currently
under development to assist with the identification and
prioritisation of science initiatives. This will help
to ensure that investment in science for biosecurity leads
to the best possible outcomes in improving the
performance of the system.
The contribution of biotechnology research (pest
control technologies and biosensing devices) in this area
is significant. Current strategic priorities for biosecurity
management in New Zealand are directed at better preborder
management of incursion threats. Biotechnology,
in the shape of better biological detection and analysis
devices, will play a pivotal role in achieving this.
Vision Mātauranga (2005) 53 Vision Mātauranga is a Vote RS&T-wide policy
framework designed to unlock the innovation potential of
Māori knowledge, resources and people. It is
designed to respond to distinctive needs of the Māori
community and also to enable the development of
distinctive contributions of Māori knowledge, resources
and people to RS&T.
50
Food and Beverage Taskforce (2006), Smart Food, Cool Beverage: New Zealand’s Future in the Food and Beverage Sector: http://www.nzte.govt.nz
51
New Zealand Government (2000), The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, http://www.biodiversity.govt.nz
52
Biosecurity New Zealand (2000), http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/bio-strategy/biostrategy.htm
53
MoRST (2005), Vision Mātauranga - Unlocking the Innovation Potential of Māori Knowledge, Resources and People, http://www.morst.govt.nz/Documents/work/vm/Vision-
Matauranga.pdf
Roadmaps for Science : biotechnology research
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