Biotechnology Research Roadmap - Science and Innovation

5.5.3 Food and nutrition
Research strengths
One of the key future global trends in food research is
for functional foods and nutraceuticals. For example,
nutrigenomics, the customisation of diet by genotype to
optimise health benefits, may become a market trend
in the future.
New Zealand has significant research strengths in
functional foods and nutraceuticals and food and
nutrition research in New Zealand is well placed to
capitalise on these global trends. Longer-term these
advanced food concepts have the potential to create
the next growth step-change for New Zealand’s food
and beverage sector.
Current investment levels and trends
Biotechnology research into value-added food and
nutrition accounts for $19 million per annum, or
around 10% of total government investment in
biotechnology. Figure 12 shows that the bulk of current
investments are directed towards functional foods
and nutraceuticals (58%), followed by research into
food materials and ingredients (28%) and food safety
research (12%).
Figure 12
Food and nutrition research by research area
28%
12%
2%
KEY
Food Processing / Preservation
Technologies
Functional Foods and Nutriceuticals
Food Materials and Ingredients
58%
Diagnostics, Biosensors and Tests
RESEARCH AREAS
42 Roadmaps for Science : biotechnology research