Retorts

Research Cost Prohibitive?

"To avoid the prohibitive cost of research in New Zealand, the company has linked with universities in the United States to carry out research on liquid seaweed fertiliser."

So wrote Pippa Hoggard in an article on a successful Kiwi seaweed business in November's Pacific Way magazine.

According to the article, Coast Biologicals Ltd have developed a multimillion dollar export industry based on extracts from the humble seaweed which grows around our coast. While agar is their main product, they are developing an increasing range of byproducts for use in medicine, agriculture and the food industry.

All good stuff -- a home-grown export industry based on the competitive advantage of an abundant, renewable natural resource.

The alarming part of this success story is that the company has chosen to take its seaweed fertiliser research activities offshore -- to the US, which is not renowned for having low research cost structures.

This is a real slap in the face for New Zealand agricultural science, especially since the reason given is "prohibitive cost", and not a lack of expertise or facilities. Fertiliser research is one area where New Zealand has a record as good as any in the world. What's more, there are a number of institutions in New Zealand, outside of the fertiliser industry itself, where Coast Biologicals could have gone for their research.

Is this just another case of New Zealand is not good enough? Or have the costs of scientific research here become uncompetitive internationally?

If, indeed, the real reason is that the US can offer a cheaper deal, then it clearly illustrates that the reforms in New Zealand science and universities are working against us, not for us.

We must foster collaboration between New Zealand industry and locally-based research, particularly in areas where we have an established record of international standing.

Craig Ross, President, NZ Institute of Agricultural Science