A multi-million dollar horticultural research institute has been announced for Tauranga.
Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith made the announcement today at the Bay of Connections forum in Rotorua and said it would leverage the Bay of Plenty's strengths in horticulture to accelerate and commercialise research and innovation for the benefit of the region.
The Government would provide $8.42 million over five years for the institute and, with additional funding from industry, it will operate as a private, independently governed organisation.
To be called Plantech: the New Zealand Institute for Technology and Innovation in Premium Plant-based Value Chains, it will be led by economic development agency Priority One, and is the fourth proposal under the Government's plan to establish regional research institutes.
Plantech would initially focus on research to enable digital automation of devices for growers, including robotics and digital sensing, with the aim of becoming a leader in supporting customised, precise and automated production systems that are accessible for businesses at a range of scales.