New seafood research group for Plant & Food Research

Auckland, New Zealand. 13 February 2012… Plant & Food Research, the Crown Research Institute tasked with innovation for the plant and seafood-based food industries, has strengthened its commitment to the seafood industry with the establishment of a new science Portfolio focused on seafood research.

The new Portfolio will be headed by a new General Manager Science – Seafood Technologies, Danette Olsen, most recently Group Manager Aquaculture and Biotechnology at the Cawthron Institute.

Dr Bruce Campbell, Chief Operating Officer, says the new Seafood Technologies Portfolio will provide opportunities to expand current research programmes to support the New Zealand seafood industry.

“The seafood industry has significant growth potential for New Zealand’s food industries, and science has an important part to pay in helping the industry meet future challenges and opportunities,” says Dr Campbell. “The establishment of the new Seafood Technologies Portfolio reflects the importance of the industry for the future, and we look forward to working with Danette in building on our existing seafood research to better meet the needs of the industry.”

Ms Olsen brings many years of valuable experience working in the science and seafood sectors. She has an MSc in Zoology from Canterbury University and has held a number of roles in science-related organisations including MAF Fisheries, the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST), Te Papa Tongarewa and the Ministry for Research, Science and Technology (MoRST). Prior to Plant & Food Research, she spent eight years at the Cawthron Institute, most recently managing the Aquaculture and Biotechnology Group – 35 scientists and technicians who develop science outcomes for the aquaculture industry.

She is also a member of the MAF Biosecurity Cross Sectoral Advisory Group and is the New Zealand representative for Fisheries and Aquaculture on the MSI led Knowledge Based Biological Economy (KBBE) Forum.

Plant & Food Research has four existing Science Portfolios – Breeding & Genomics, Bioprotection, Sustainable Production and Food Innovation – and these will remain focused on research for the horticultural, arable and plant-based food industries. The new Seafood Technologies Portfolio will incorporate current research teams focused on delivering high quality seafood using sustainable fish production and processing systems, as well as research into marine-based functional food ingredients and industrial products.

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