Research Areas 

Work under the Food Transitions 2050 theme focuses on the following subthemes:

 

Food and future landscapes 

 
  • Does terroir influence food and human health outcomes in New Zealand?

  • Designing for productivity in the rural-urban continuum 

  • Using portfolio analysis to assess diverse agricultural landscapes under climate 

  • Designing landscapes for climate change and resilient food production: a social-ecological systems approach 

  • Increasing crop yield through harnessing native pollinator diversity 

  • Plant waste by-product potential for fungi, food, and fodder

 

Food for a zero carbon future 

 
  • Edible insects, diet and proteins to explore the potential of a value-added product to improve human health

  • Impact of regenerative grazing practices on plant-soil interactions

  • Transforming industrial food waste for a carbon zero future

  • The role of bacterial cell-envelope proteinase enzymes in plant-based protein fermentations: toward new foods 

 

Food consumer transitions

 
  • An exploration of the sociocultural dimensions and public perceptions of alternative proteins in Aotearoa New Zealand

  • Improving the bioavailability of polyphenols from NZ fruit extracts

  • Molecular biography of lamb meat, as influenced by diet and an extensive farm

  • Prevention of cardiometabolic diseases with foods developed with upcycled processing water from peas

 

Food Governance 2050

 
  • An investigation into living systems principles and regenerative principles in the food and fibres sector of Canterbury’s economy.

Research projects will aspire to an integrative transdisciplinary framework, and staff and student researchers in the School will learn from each other to enhance their collective experience and skill in transdisciplinary work. 

The partners individually and collectively have a strong commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi as a bicultural partnership framework. As part of that commitment, the intention is to promote and support mātauranga Māori work conducted in line with Treaty Article 2 (by Māori, for Māori), including work that supports the aspirations of mana whenua rūnanga. 

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“Research projects will aspire to an integrative transdisciplinary framework”

Applications are currently available

Applications for projects by supervisory teams are opening mid-year. 

Our Partners: