Key government leaders and science innovators came together recently to celebrate the momentum building within New Zealand’s growing bioeconomy sector.
Hon Dr Shane Reti – Minister for Health, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Minister for Pacific Peoples, and Associate Minister of Education
Hon Scott Simpson – Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Minister of ACC.
Mark Piper – CEO of New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited
Dr Stefan Hill – Portfolio Leader, High Value Biorefineries (New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited – Scion Group Group)
We were energised by the real action and collaboration already underway with the recent merger of the “Fantastic Four of the Bioeconomy”: AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Group, Scion Group and The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited.
Throughout our conversations we realised this merger, isn’t just about a structural change; this is a mindset shift – it’s about transformational science to support our primary industries.
We also had the ability to showcase how AgriSea, in partnership with Scion, is advancing innovation, through our 7 year project to scale a Seaweed Nanocellulose Biorefinery from the by-products of our seaweed production.
We are only a month away from sending out our first commercial orders from New Zealand as we turn would-be waste streams into high value.
This technology allows us to:
Support other seaweed companies maximise value from material
Solve product challenges with our high performance platform cellulose with current projects spanning:
Biological Encapsulation, Wound Healing, Medical Devices, Filtration, Cosmetic, Batteries and Electronics, Plant and Food applications
This is circular bioeconomy in action – turning science into sustainable, commercial solutions that deliver for land, people, and the future with global impact.
