New government funding of $3 million will enable AgResearch scientists to explore new ways to tackle industry challenges such as plant disease and reducing environmental impacts.
The three Smart Idea grants are from the government’s 2024 Endeavour Fund, announced by Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins. The Endeavour Fund is aimed at supporting excellent research that pushes boundaries and deliver results to positively transform New Zealand’s economy, environment and society.
The three AgResearch projects to receive funding feature research using technology known as RNAi to control fungal diseases threatening plants and animals, nanofertilisers to reduce pollution from nitrogen loss, and development of new generation biomaterials from protein.
AgResearch chief scientist Axel Heiser said it is always exciting to see the bright ideas of scientists getting the support to test them out.
“I think we all recognise now that given the challenges our primary industries are facing, a business-as-usual approach isn’t going to be enough. Investing into research that explores new approaches to long-running problems is critical, and the payoff over time can be significant.”
The successful AgResearch projects are:
• Superior protein biocomposites through tailored gradients of nature-inspired microstructure ($1m)
Protein is commonly know as something we eat, but in nature it is used for a diversity of hard, soft and elastic structures. For example, cat claws, spider silk, our nails and our hair are all protein. What makes silk elastic or claws sharp lies in how proteins are ordered at both molecular and microscopic scales, and like nesting dolls, these materials contain hierarchical layers of order.
In this Smart Idea project, the aim is to design a new generation of custom-made biomaterials inspired by the way that nature optimally organises proteins at a microscopic level as a material forms. Natural control of microscopic structure of protein materials allow AgResearch to make tailored biomaterials that are flexible, stiff or have gradients of effect, like in-built hinges. Products made this new way will be environmentally friendly and sustainable compared to the material they will replace (largely plastics). Not only are protein materials safely compostable (no microplastics) but they are also recyclable.
Compared to other green alternatives, such as paper, products made from these next-generation materials will inherit the unique combinations of natural benefits brought by proteins, such as fire retardancy, breathability and odour absorption.
• Silencing fungal diseases: unlocking RNAi as novel tool to control Agricultural Pathogens ($999,999.96)
Globally, fungi pose a significant threat to animal and plant species, causing 65% of pathogen-driven host losses. The estimated annual global economic burden of fungal crop diseases is roughly US$200 billion (about $324bn), whereas in farm animals it is poorly reported globally.
For instance, Pithomyces chartarum, the causal organism of facial eczema (FE), costs $332m a year in New Zealand. Traditional agriculture heavily relies on chemical agents to combat fungal pathogens, but this approach harms the environment.
AgResearch proposes employing RNAi technology to create environmentally friendly double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules targeting virulence genes in Pithomyces chartarum.
This research will yield new knowledge, IP, and technologies that enhance animal production systems, promote chemical-free practices and improve animal welfare, while bolstering global confidence in NZ’s animal products.
It will support the globally recognised team in developing RNAi therapeutics and technology platforms for emerging agricultural applications. The enhanced detection capabilities will substantially reduce costs and enhance existing Pithomyces chartarum forecasting systems, thereby safeguarding NZ’s pasture and farm animals.
• Foliar nitrogen nanofertilizers (Nnf), increasing nitrogen use efficiency and reducing environmental pollution ($999,999)
The aim is to reduce the environmental impact of dairy grazing NZ systems using a novel approach targeted to increase the efficiency of nitrogen delivery to plants.
The team will combine nanotechnology, engineering, environmental and agronomic evaluations to assess the effectiveness and direct impact of the proposal.
