Grassroots innovation: celebrating AgResearch’s advances in endophyte science

24 July 2025 - 24 July 2025

Region(s): Canterbury

Type(s): presentations

Royal Society Te Apārangi, its Canterbury Branch and the Prime Minister's Science Prizes present a free talk by Dr Linda Johnson and Dr David Hume, winners of the 2024 Prime Minister's Science Prize.

Ryegrass

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Perennial ryegrass is the most widely sown pasture grass in Aotearoa New Zealand. It grows well in most conditions, is easy to manage and, as a perennial, will grow for many years.

Annual and Italian ryegrass species are less persistent but are quick to establish and provide winter and early spring feed.

Ryegrass provides high-quality feed.

IMAGE: Italian ryegrass, © DairyNZ

 

Rights: DairyNZ

They are an integral part of the research team from AgResearch that won the prestigious Prime Minister’s Science Prize for decades-long work developing new endophytes that enhance ryegrass – the most commonly sown pasture grass on New Zealand farms. Endophytes are microorganisms that live within plants, benefiting both the plant and the microorganism.

One of the endophytes the team discovered, known as AR37, promotes the growth of ryegrass and protects it from pests and diseases – without causing significant health issues or lowered productivity in grazing animals – delivering significant advantages for the farming sector.

Find out more and book a place: www.royalsociety.org.nz/events/grassroots-innovation-celebrating-agresearchs-advances-in-endophyte-science-canterbury.

Location: Lincoln University Waimarie Building, Springs Road, Canterbury.