Funding boost for nutrition research

Health findings another reason to buy. Photo / File

A $1 million boost from the government will enable Zespri to further develop its health strategy by providing scientific evidence into whether kiwifruit can help better manage blood glucose levels.

Last week Plant & Food Research was awarded the grant from the Ministry of Business and Innovation's High Value Nutrition fund.

Zespri health and nutrition innovation leader Dr Juliet Ansell said kiwifruit had powerful health benefits and "this is the basis of the company's consumer communications in the 54 countries around the world in which Zespri kiwifruit is sold."

"Our research shows that the more consumers know about the health benefits of kiwifruit, the more likely they are to see kiwifruit as an important nutritious addition to the daily diet. We want to build on our base of loyal, regular consumers who value the health benefits they get from eating kiwifruit."

Health marketing was increasingly important when taking into account global trends towards an aging population, rising middle classes in developing countries and increasing interest in healthy living, she said.

"Zespri kiwifruit has many health benefits and contributes to everyday good health and vitality. It has a high nutrient density, is a source of fibre and contains the enzyme actinidin, which may help to break down proteins during digestion. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C."

Zespri has invested in health and nutrition research over the years and lodged the world's first self-substantiated health claim for fresh fruit - and first-ever in New Zealand - under the Food Standards Australia-New Zealand (FSANZ) Standard for Nutrition, Health and Related Claims.

Zespri marketing and innovation general manager Carol Ward said the funding would help further develop Zespri's health strategy, providing scientific evidence of kiwifruit's health benefits to underpin consumer communications around the world.

"This funding is great news: the results of this work could well give our consumers another reason to buy Zespri kiwifruit, as kiwifruit volumes increase strongly. This will help grow our industry's export revenue and returns to New Zealand growers," Ms Ward said.

The funding would be made available over three years.