The CRI Act defines AgResearch’s purpose as “undertaking research”. Within this purpose we must adhere to six principles; to benefit New Zealand, pursue excellence, be ethical, transfer technology, be a good employer and exhibit a sense of social responsibility. However, none of this must occur at the expense of our financial viability, defined by the Act as operating as a going concern and earning an adequate rate of return on shareholders’ funds.

Efficiency alone is far from the name of the game. The New Zealand pastoral sector has to think smarter rather than work harder.

To deliver these benefits we have set ourselves three main goals:

• To raise the rate of productivity growth in the New Zealand pastoral sector

• To introduce a range of biotechnologies and other technologies to New Zealand

• To export our own biotechnologies and other technologies to the world, provided this does not compromise the other two goals.

We have three research areas aimed at precisely the need to work smarter.

They are:

• Maintaining market access and consumer confidence in food and textile products generated from New Zealand pastures

• Ensuring that these food and textile products command premium prices and profits in/from overseas markets

• Introducing efficiency gains across all parts of food and textile value chains controlled by New Zealand.

National Research Centres

AgResearch has formal research collaboration agreements with more than 100 other organisations around the world. In New Zealand we are establishing three new National Research Centres that will focus on biosecurity, animal health, and mammalian reproduction and genomics. We have established a National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Diseases at Wallaceville, Upper Hutt - a joint venture with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and Environmental Science and Research (ESR). AgResearch and the University of Otago have signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the establishment of a Centre for Reproduction and Genomics in Dunedin. We have opened the Hopkirk Research Institute (Animal Health) with Massey University in Palmerston North.

On January 3, 2007, AgResearch purchased the assets of Canesis, formerly the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand Inc (WRONZ). This enabled AgResearch to combine its existing knowledge of wool production with new wool processing and manufacturing capabilities. The acquisition led to the creation of a new Textiles Group and the deal is expected to bring major benefits to New Zealand's $1 billion wool industry.

Stephen Goldson, Chief Scientist

The Chief Scientist role is similar to that found in several other New Zealand science organisations. A primary function is to represent the scientific interests of AgResearch to various interested parties in both government and industry. In particular, this applies to the Royal Society of New Zealand, the Office of the Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister, the Foundation for Research Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Economic Development and the CRI organisation, Science New Zealand Inc. Some of this work involves speaking engagements and dealing directly with the media, as well as the production of suitably informed documentation.

In addition, the position accommodates contribution to various government advisory groups such as the Biosecurity Minister’s Advisory Committee as well as contribution to the AgResearch/Lincoln University Partnership.

Internally there are organisational responsibilities around using the Principal Scientists to best effect, as well as mentoring and peer review when called for.

In keeping with others in similar positions there is a small but ongoing research component associated with this job.