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BioTechNZ

The modern biotechnology toolbox

In this issue

  • Insights from the Executive Director 
  • BioTechNZ news and highlights
  • What’s happening around the country and across the ditch?


Insights from the Executive Director

I have been talking to media over the last month as there is a lot of interest around the outdated gene regulations in New Zealand, with the common theme “should New Zealand start having the discussion?” My answer to that – we are done having the conversations; we need to have a roll-out plan across the sectors. Otherwise, we will miss out. You can read more about it in this Stuff article: Warning primary sector will miss out if gene editing not allowed.

BioTechNZ news and highlights

Last month we saw the launch of: 

:WELL_NZ is a conversation starter advocating for an urgent system design to ensure a sustainable economic future for New Zealand’s food and fibre sector. It describes the global food production context and the implications of ongoing rapid change for New Zealand.

This was launched and published on 1 June 2022. We have six weeks to make any recommendations. Submission date is 13 July 2022, 5pm. 

Action: READ THE PLAN

If you would like to contribute, please join the BioTechNZ Zoom discussion (1 hour) at any one of these times:  

Add the link to your diary, or send me an email and I can send you an invite: info@biotechnz.org.nz 

What’s happening around the country and across the ditch? 

HOLD THE DATE
Building on our Dunedin Biotech Ecosystem Connect event

Monday 27 June, Dunedin Venue TBD, 5-7.30pm

Building on our BioTechNZ, ASX and University of Otago Connect event held in February 2021, join us to hear how the sector has moved forward. We will post the details on our website shortly.
 

Biotech & Beer Happy Hour
Thursday 7 July, Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, New Plymouth

A number of our members have offered their organisation’s premises as a venue, so we are currently organising the next Biotech & Beer Happy Hour. If you have a suitable venue in any region and are keen to have a few biotechers at your place for drinks and nibbles, let me know: info@biotechnz.org.nz
 

HOLD THE DATE 

Accelerating Crop Bioprotectant Development from New Zealand

Building a New Zealand community targeting global markets

Friday 29 July 2022, 9am-1.30pm, Wellington CBD

This year’s event immediately follows the AGCARM conference, which is to be held in Wellington on 28 July. Please extend your travel bookings to include this important BioTechNZ event too. Note that this is an in-person event only. Register here.

2022 BIO International Convention 

June 13-16 2022, San Diego, California 

Unfortunately, BioTechNZ will not be at BIO this year, but for all our Kiwis travelling to BIO 2022, Brandon Capital would like to invite you to the unofficial “BIO 2022 New Zealand delegation touch down event” in San Diego. Come and join the Brandon Capital team to kick off BIO 2022 at this casual event with drinks and nibbles.

Sunday 12 June, 3.30-6pm at Kairoa Brewing Company
Upstairs rooftop patio
4601 Park Blvd
University Heights
San Diego
kairoa.com

2035 Agri-Food-Tech Oceania Summit

10-11 October 2022, Auckland

The 2035 Agri-Food-Tech Oceania Summit has been designed to enable the region’s scientific and research community, its industry leaders, agribusiness and agritech companies, farmers and growers, regulators and policy makers to meet and discuss how agrifood tech innovation and on-farm application can help address the existential threat posed by climate. Agriculture and the agrifood supply chain provide a significant contribution to the region’s greenhouse gas emissions. The 2035 Oceania Summit will focus on the role that agrifood tech will play in supporting farmers and growers to reduce emissions to net zero, as well as build more resilient growing systems to address the ongoing impact of a rapidly changing climate. 

Success stories

BioTechNZ members, please send your news to us so we can share your success stories with the biotech community.

BioTechNZ Our aim is to raise awareness and increase the understanding to enable our nation to embrace the best opportunities biotech offers to us daily, helping us live better, healthier and more productive lives.