Professor Chris Battershill is the Lead Investigator on this project, which will incorporate mātauranga Māori in work to improve the health of the coastal environment and contribute to reversing the decline of New Zealand’s kelp ecosystems.
Using test kelp forest beds in four economically, ecologically and culturally important regions, the project will work across three themes to establish pathways into co-management models, test and model variables between and within regions, and assess and evaluate interventions.
The impact will be seen in more resilient rocky reef ecosystems, and the development of sustainable intergenerational management strategies for kaimoana and marine health.
Smart Ideas (each funded for $1m over 3 years)
Enhanced rock weathering for large-scale capture of carbon dioxide in Aotearoa
Dr Terry Isson is investigating the potential for accelerating rock weathering in permanent pasture, with the goal of increasing carbon capture rates and contributing to carbon neutrality in farming.
Spatially mapping galaxiid nests with scent detection dogs and unmanned aerial vehicles
Dr Nicholas Ling will use scent detection dogs and drones to gather data on whitebait spawning areas for the benefit of environmental and fishery management planning.
A ligase-based solution for non-natural nucleic acid synthesis
Dr Adele Williamson is developing a platform for synthesising artificial versions of natural DNA and RNA, or XNAs, which hold the potential to advance biosensing, diagnostics and therapeutics.
Lightweight compliant mechanism robotic grippers for fruit harvesting
Dr Ajit Pal Singh is developing a new generation of fruit harvesting robotic grippers in support of increasing the commercialisation potential of high-value agritech tools from New Zealand.
