FoodHQ welcomes ESR

NEWS RELEASE

8 April 2014

FoodHQ welcomes ESR

FoodHQ today announced that ESR (Institute of Environmental Science and Research) has become the newest member of the collaboration. FoodHQ, New Zealand’s international gateway for collaborative food research, generates value for the global food industry through innovation across the food value chain.

ESR General Manager Environmental Health Fiona Thomson-Carter says they are very pleased to be joining FoodHQ.

“ESR delivers advice and solutions across every food production sector in New Zealand so we bring to the table an unrivalled ability to solve the unusual and the unexpected.

“We see this as a great opportunity to be part of helping build a more productive and competitive economy,” says Dr Thomson-Carter.

ESR is a government-owned Crown Research Institute. It provides operational science and research services that underpin New Zealand’s public health, food safety, justice and environmental sectors.

“Having ESR as a member and on the Board is a great opportunity for FoodHQ,” says Steve Maharey, Massey University Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the FoodHQ Board. “ESR is recognised in New Zealand and around the world for its expertise in food safety science and research.”

The addition of ESR to the FoodHQ family is also significant because it is tangible evidence that the collaboration is gaining traction with organisations outside the FoodHQ footprint.

“FoodHQ is New Zealand’s international gateway for collaborative food research,” says Mr Maharey. “It is based in Palmerston North, but organisations such as ESR recognise the value of becoming a member of the group. They see FoodHQ as a gateway and want to be part of the collaboration.”

With the exception of ESR, the research and innovation members of the FoodHQ family are located within a one-kilometre radius in Palmerston North’s Fitzherbert Science Park and Massey University’s Manawatū campus. A world centre for agri-food innovation, FoodHQ researchers connect and collaborate and have the resources and leadership to build and maintain international links, recruit and retain top talent, responsibly manage New Zealand’s resources for a sustainable future and serve the international food industry.

Poised to deliver on the Government’s Business Growth Agenda, which calls for a trebling of the real value of food exports in the next 12 years, FoodHQ was officially opened on July 29 at Massey University’s Manawatū campus by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce. The first stage of FoodHQ, Food Innovation New Zealand, was launched in August 2009 by Prime Minister John Key.

FoodHQ’s 20-year strategic plan outlines how the organisations will collectively play a key role in the global food community and how it will further unify established research organisations AgResearch, AsureQuality, ESR, Fonterra, Massey University, Plant & Food Research, the Riddet Institute and BCC. It is actively supported by the Manawatū District and Palmerston North City Councils.

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