New Zealand’s peak research institute for forest and wood products (Scion) will operate as a division of the New Zealand Institute of Bioeconomy Science (or Bioeconomy Science Institute) from July 1. That is according to Dr Shane Reti, NZ’s Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, who revealed that Scion will join AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research and Plant and Food in the Bioeconomy Science Institute in the new body:
“The new organisation will advance innovation in agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, biotechnology and manufacturing, protect ecosystems from biosecurity threats and climate risks and develop new bio-based technologies and products,” according to a statement provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment last week, adding that the new body would also bring together the New Zealand Institute for Earth Science (a merger of the NIWA and GNS) and the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (currently the Institute of Environmental Science and Research – ESR).
It comes as Dr Reti last week announced that the new institute will be overseen by a new board of directors, comprising:
- Chair Barry Harris (currently Chair of NIWA)
- Deputy Chair Kim Wallace (currently Chair of AgResearch)
- Candace Kinser (currently a director of Plant & Food Research)
- Andrew Morrison (currently a director of AgResearch)
- Gray Baldwin (currently a director of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research)
The changes come after Wood Central last year reported that Scion would shrink “by about 10%”, with the Luxon government taking the axe to Scion, according to a new report by RNZ and comes as Scion CEO Dr Julian Elder warned that Scion would not be able to retain its current staff load. At the time, Wood Central reported that the cut would affect 30 jobs (out of more than 280 staff), with reductions targeting forestry exports – a decision that the PSA, NZ’s largest trade union, slammed, given forestry is the country’s third largest export industry.
