scigest - Plant & Food Research podcast
Welcome to Scigest - podcast-sized servings of digestible science from Plant & Food Research. Join us as we explore the advancements and impact our scientists are making in food production, including developing new cultivars, innovative new foods, to bioprotection science, AI and technology, and creating sustainable production systems. 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
- Update frequency
- every 14 days
- Episodes
- 177
- Years Active
- 2017 - 2025
A summer in science (SIS)
Our host Erin Stroud chats to students Tom Parekowhai and Rāwinia Wikaira as they recount their summers in science. Tom and Rāwinia cover the types of projects summer students can get involved in at …
Thu 23 Mar 2023
Invasion-of-the-Fall-armyworm (BIOSECURITY)
While an invasion of creepy crawlies may be the stuff of nightmares, it could be a reality for New Zealand growers and gardening hobbyists. Fall armyworm has recently made its way to our shores and, …
Mon 13 Mar 2023
A new horizon for dragon fruit (ID)
Scientists from Plant & Food Research have been working with partners at the Southern Horticultural Research Institute in Viet Nam over the last decade on a joint dragon fruit breeding programme and …
Mon 13 Feb 2023
Cricket Calls (SLS)
Nighttime cricket calls might be the soundtrack of summer, but for farmers, it's not a noise they want to hear. In this Scigest episode, entomologist Sophie Hunt and Northland kumara grower Warwick S…
Thu 02 Feb 2023
Straight into science (SLFM)
Scientist and Scigest podcaster Rebecca Bloomer talks fellow scientist Tom Moore about her journey into science, asking interesting biological questions, how curiosity can drive science communication…
Thu 19 Jan 2023
Filling The Void - A colourful project (SS)
The multi-disciplinary Filling the Void project received the Science New Zealand Team Award for their work in laying the foundation for a new breeding programme for Aotearoa. Their goal was to develo…
Thu 15 Dec 2022
Making the most of our fish (SB)
Achieving total utilisation and maximum value from a catch is an significant goal for the seafood industry. In this podcast, we discuss Cyber Physical Seafood Systems (Cyber-Marine), a new Ministry o…
Mon 05 Dec 2022
A collection of virus-related moments (SLFM)
Passionate plant virologist Associate Professor Robin MacDiarmid talks to Scigest host Erin Stroud about how her family sparked her interest in a science career, the devastating loss of her mother, a…
Thu 17 Nov 2022
Sniffing out a successful technology (NT)
Scientist Blue Plunkett speaks to Andrew Kralicek, Chief Technology Officer of Scentian Bio, about biosensors that can detect volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) – or more simply, smells, in liquid and…
Thu 03 Nov 2022
Being a bioinformatician (SLFM)
Bioinformatics is cutting-edge science that applies tools of computation and analysis to capture and understand biological data. It is an interdisciplinary field which harnesses computer science, mat…
Thu 20 Oct 2022
Benefits of beneficial biodiversity (BIOSECURITY)
There are enormous benefits that Aotearoa New Zealand’s insect fauna can play in pollinating crops and controlling insect pests. Scientist Brad Howlett speaks to Scigest host Nicola Sullivan about de…
Thu 06 Oct 2022
Where does the data go (SLFM)
Wanting to see the bigger picture and understand what knowledge could be gained from the data he was collecting opened up a whole new world of data science for scientist Jian Liu. Jian chats to stati…
Thu 22 Sep 2022
David Hughes: leadership learnings (SLFM)
Plant & Food Research CEO David Hughes chats with Scigest host Hilary Ireland about his journey science leadership, the big opportunities in the future of food, sustainability and how science can cre…
Thu 08 Sep 2022
Creating New Zealand-made aquafeeds for sustainable aquaculture (SB)
Fish are not simple to feed. Their nutritional requirements vary hugely depending on the species, life stage and growing environment. Most of the aquafeeds currently used in Aotearoa New Zealand is i…
Thu 25 Aug 2022
A curious journey (SLFM)
Following his passion, curiosity and interest led statistical scientist Tom Moore into a varied science career. Fellow scientist and Scigest host Susan Thomson speaks to Tom as he recounts his transi…
Thu 11 Aug 2022
The Future Orchard (SS)
Improving efficiency of fruit production on the minimum amount of land while reducing inputs on the orchard is vital for the longevity and sustainability of the fruit tree industries around the world…
Thu 28 Jul 2022
Future of Food (SMAS)
How we grow, buy, eat and even value our food is changing.
In our 100th Scigest podcast Ian Proudfoot, KPMG Global Head of Agribusiness, and our CEO David Hughes discuss the future of food, how valu…
Wed 13 Jul 2022
From Gumboots to Boardroom (SIS)
In this episode of our Starting In Science series, host Erin Stroud chats to plant-pathogen scientist Dr Nick Waipara (Rongowhakaata and Ngāti Ruapani ki Turanga), entomologist Dr Dave Bellamy, and D…
Thu 30 Jun 2022
Adding value to New Zealand wheat (SS)
Wheat is the most widely grown commercial crop in the world, yet flour and bread disappeared from supermarket shelves during the lockdown. Wheat breeder Jamie Macalister chats to Scigest host Rebecca…
Thu 16 Jun 2022
A taste for change (SLFM)
Yuki Wadamori, a scientist in our Food & Bioproducts Technology team, sunk her teeth into a new career after working as a dentist in Japan. She chats to Scigest host Nicola Sullivan about her inte…
Thu 02 Jun 2022
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