Here at the Bioresource Processing Alliance (BPA) we are proud of the fact we’ve helped provide funding support for appropriate projects that utilise the expertise of our research partners.
For further information on any of the below previous projects please contact our GM – Nicky Solomon on nicky.solomon@bioresourceprocessing.co.nz
| Project Title | Project Summary | Project Date | Lead Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valorisation of second-grade kina and sea urchins from barrens | Examining opportunities to create high-value food-service and bioactives from kina and sea urchins. | September 2025 | Callaghan Innovation | BSI:Plant and Food Research |
| Fruit and vegetable processing byproduct valorisation | Seeking to convert high-moisture vegetable by-product streams into intermediate products that can be dried efficiently. | September 2025 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Techno-economic analysis of a porcine collagen extraction process | Examining the technical and economic feasibility of production of a high-quality collagen extract from porcine skin and lung. | September 2025 | BSI:AgResearch |
| Investigating grape and onion waste materials as ruminant feed additives to reduce methane production and support animal health – MASTER’S | Aiming to transform agro-industrial waste into a high-value feed additive that can assist in reducing agricultural emissions. | September 2025 | University of Auckland |
| High-value pharmaceuticals from animal blood processing waste | Exploring a novel approach to the extraction and purification of bilirubin for industrial and pharmaceutical applications. | September 2025 | Scion |
| Food contact compliant moulded fibre trays | Assessing the potential for moulded fibre trays that incorporate agri-byproducts to meet food packaging requirements. This project builds on an earlier student internship (BPA24309). | September 2025 | Scion |
| Microplastic remediation of organic waste streams | Investigating the potential of high-temperature processing to degrade microplastics under controlled conditions, using a small-scale reactor. | September 2025 | Scion |
| Bio based materials for land use applications | Understanding how to control porosity in bio-based materials made from secondary resource streams. | September 2025 | AgResearch |
| Bio adhesives from waste | Examining the opportunities to develop bio-based adhesives from by-product streams. | September 2025 | AgResearch |
| Developing a dependable organic fertiliser for the horticulture industry | A small study establishing nitrogen release patterns for biologically sourced, slow-release, sustainable fertiliser. | August 2025 | BSI:Plant and Food Research |
| Food-grade valorisation of salmon remaining raw materials to frozen protein block and oil | Scaling a process for extracting and processing oil and protein from salmon by-products, for full resource utilisation. | May 2025 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Moolasses: Development of dairy mineral syrup from lactose permeate | Developing animal feed products from surplus lactose permeate. | May 2025 | Scion | AgResearch | Callaghan Innovation |
| Sarmentosin from Blackcurrant Waste: Isolation and Scale-up for Brain Health | Scaling the commercial production of sarmentosin from blackcurrant waste streams, a bioactive with brain-health benefits. | May 2025 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Sustainable jewellery from natural pigments and biodegradable polymer | Extending the work of a summer intern creating a range of sustainable eco-friendly bracelet products, using agricultural and food waste to extract natural pigments. | May 2025 | Scion |
| Developing a framework for quality assurance of hemp aggregates (Master’s) | Developing a methodology and classification system to characterise hemp aggregate so that its appropriate end use can be determined. | May 2025 | Massey University |
| Biochar technology assessment | A technical and economic comparison of existing biochar production technologies suitable for available forestry residue. | March 2025 | Scion |
| Optimising blackcurrant pomace processing | Validation of the optimum processing settings used to capture and stabilise the pomace, following on from a previous project. | March 2025 | Plant and Food Research |
| The Development of a Biobased Cruelty-Free Leather | Early-stage work on the development of a plant-based leather utilising waste kiwifruit. | December 2024 | Scion |
| Avocado Oil Processing Byproducts | Investigating the feasibility of a closed-loop system for energy production utilising the by-products of avocado oil production. | December 2024 | Callaghan Innovation | Scion |
| Utilising DAF Protein and Fat for Agricultural Feed | Research into the potential for DAF-sourced protein to be used as an ingredient in chicken feed, and for DAF-sourced fats to be used as a feedstock for industrial fermentation. | December 2024 | Scion | Callaghan Innovation | Massey University |
| Characterisation of Harakeke leaf resource streams after fibre extraction | Exploring options for the use of secondary resources created by the production of harakeke fibre. | December 2024 | AgResearch | Massey University |
| Optimisation of DAF to Companion Petfood | Looking at utilisation of protein powder created from the top phase of a dairy-dissolved air floatation unit as an ingredient in pet food. The third in a series of projects developing this concept. | August 2024 | AgResearch | Massey University |
| Scoping study of geoduck lipids | Exploratory analysis of the biochemical compounds in geoducks. | August 2024 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Local manufacturing of bioproducts from forestry by-products | The project is a follow-on to an initial project and aims to validate and refine the practical and economic feasibility of converting forestry by-products into value-added products focusing on wood pellets and carbonised products. | August 2024 | Scion |
| Upcycling bovine co-products for sustainable protein | Finding alternative uses for bovine co-products that will recover value, minimise costs and reduce environmental impact. Builds upon a current project which is developing a protein ingredient from bovine co-products. | August 2024 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Novel hop products from underutilised bioresources | Aims to identify high value uses for hop processing streams and develop prototypes of extracted oils that have valuable novel flavour/aroma profiles. Builds upon an earlier BPA project that characterised the by-products from the hop picking process. | August 2024 | Plant and Food Research |
| Develop further products from kabocha kernel protein powder | Convert the kabocha seed (by-product of kabocha milk production) into high-protein powder and edible oil. This will build on earlier BPA-funded projects that looked at squash seed oil products, and other projects that have developed a range of prototype food products from kabocha milk by-products. | August 2024 | Callaghan Innovation | Plant and Food Research |
| Conversion of berry juice pomace to high value extracts | To perform a techno-economic analysis of processing of raw blueberry juice pomace into a phenolic/anthocyanin powder concentrate. | August 2024 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Value-add from whole reject potatoes (summer student internship) | Conversion of reject potatoes into higher-value food or beverage products. | August 2024 | Massey University |
| Feather and hair derived biomaterials (summer student internship) | Extending previous work on keratin from waste sources to determine if material suitable for injection moulding can be developed. | August 2024 | AgResearch |
| Kānuka biochar to activated carbon | Technoeconomic analysis to determine the feasibility of creating a high-value activated carbon from the by-product of a novel process converting kānuka to food flavouring. | June 2024 | University of Auckland |
| Sustainable harakeke packaging | Technoeconomic analysis to determine the feasibility of creating sustainable food packaging from harakeke fibre. | June 2024 | Scion |
| Valorisation of remaining fish material | Convert by-products from fish processing into fish protein concentrate or isolate, and fish oil for use in pet or human nutrition. Additionally, to remove organic material from wastewater. | June 2024 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Finger lime processing | Develop an automated method for processing second-grade finger limes into pearls and peels, and to develop methods for preserving the pearls and convert them into potentially shelf stable ingredients or products. | June 2024 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Advanced waste to renewables | Further development of technology for hydrothermal oxidation of biomass for energy production. | June 2024 | Scion |
| Added value leafy greens | Repurpose surplus perishable green leafy produce by exploring options to create added-value products. | June 2024 | Plant and Food Research |
| Methanogen inhibition ingredients from grape marc | Small scale drying trials and technoeconomic analysis to determine the feasibility of including grape marc in ruminant feed to aid in methane reduction. | June 2024 | Plant and Food Research |
| Technoeconomic analysis for mobile pelletising plant | Assess the feasibility and viability of designing a mobile wood pelletising system that would utilise forestry harvesting residues, mainly focusing on cut-over areas in forests. | June 2024 | Scion |
| Mushrooms from wood by-products | To transform oversized logs, which would otherwise be burnt, into valuable mushroom products for the nutraceutical and culinary markets. | March 2024 | Plant and Food Research | Scion |
| Mycelial submerged fermentation with liquid whey | To identify valuable nutritive and bioactive compounds generated whey is used as a culture media for mycelial submerged fermentation. | March 2024 | AgResearch | Massey University |
| Production of kumara vine powder | To produce value-added products from Kumara vine, which can be added to food supplements such as protein powders. | March 2024 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Essential oil extraction by-product utilisation | To identify value-added uses for hydrosol and wood residue, generated during the extraction of essential oil. | March 2024 | Scion | Callaghan Innovation |
| DAF to companion animal food | Development of a protein rich companion pet food product from dairy DAF waste stream (follow up to previous project DAF to companion petfood). | March 2024 | Callaghan Innovation | AgResearch |
| Waste lactose to edible oils | A fermentation process is to be developed to produce potential food grade microbial lipids using lactose rich dairy permeate waste. | March 2024 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Longline Bait (Master’s) | To valorise the significant waste stream of dead whole crayfish by developing a bait that specifically appeals to rig, and thereby reduces unwanted by-catch. | March 2024 | Massey University |
| Fruit Pomace Evaluation | Detailed compositional breakdown of various types of fruit pomace (blackcurrant, boysenberry and blueberry), including analysis of nutrients and bioactives. | December 2023 | Plant and Food Research |
| Mīti – Sustainable beef, nutrition, and processing | Further development of Alps2Ocean Food’s Mīti bar through understanding of the nutritional functional health benefits of the product and lifecycle analysis of the ingredients. | December 2023 | AgResearch |
| Elevating zero-alcohol beer flavour with spent grain derived kokumi | Determine the feasibility of extracting (novel) kokumi compounds from spent grain and hops, which can then be used to enhance the flavour profile of zero-alcohol beer in a circular system. | December 2023 | AgResearch |
| Fermented Papaya Product | Produce value-added products through the fermentation of papaya, as well as assessment of the fermented products to establish and quantify the levels of key compounds of interest. | December 2023 | Plant and Food Research |
| ReFib -Conversion of waste fibre into construction materials (summer intern) | Explore opportunities for creating construction materials from high-fibre by-products such as corn husk, hemp hurd and wood waste. | December 2023 | Massey University |
| Reject Kiwifruit (summer intern) | Work on the development of juice products to utilise reject gold kiwifruit. | December 2023 | Massey University |
| R&D of cauliflower-based ice cream products (summer intern) | Work on flavour development, quality and shelf-life for cauliflower-based ice cream products. | December 2023 | Massey University |
| Biochar from grape marc (Master’s) | Explore the hypothesis that applying grape marc biochar to vineyard soils will: a) improve the fertility of the soils though improved nutrient exchange b) increase drought tolerance of grapevines through enhanced water infiltration and holding capacity c) achieve a net reduction of carbon emissions in grape production |
December 2023 | Lincoln University |
| Valorise cheese whey (summer intern) | Quantify current cheese whey losses from small cheese producers throughout New Zealand and identify candidate products that can enable manufacturers to valorise the whey. | December 2023 | AgResearch |
| Adding Value to Marlborough Waste Streams | Investigate the feasibility of developing aquafeed diets by assessing various waste streams from the Marlborough region as potential feedstocks for mealworm. | August 2023 | Plant and Food Research |
| Biobased MDF board (summer intern) | Aim to develop and optimise a process of preparing a MDF style board from waste plant straw (such as hempseed and linseed, products that are of low value and feathers. | August 2023 | AgResearch |
| Production of low molecular weight fucoidan from seaweed Undaria (PhD) | Develop and evaluate a novel method to co-extract fucoidan, alginate, and proteins from Undaria for use in high-value food and health products. | August 2023 | University of Auckland |
| Omega Plus Pet Food Digestibility Trial | Test the digestibility of petfood products using by products from fish production. | August 2023 | Massey University |
| Dielectric Spectroscopy of Biobased Functional Carbon Nanomaterials (summer intern) | Establish dielectric spectroscopy as a tool to study the electronic properties, for example conductive inks, which are key elements for printed electronics. | August 2023 | Scion |
| Kabocha (squash) Project for Asia | Upcycle Kabocha squash seed, kernels and peels to produce innovative food products. | June 2023 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Preparation of Natural Mushroom Stalk Kokumi Rich Flavour Extract and Investigation of its Sensory Attributes | Create a natural plant-based flavour enhancer from parts of the mushroom plant not currently used in primary production. | June 2023 | AgResearch |
| Protein and High Value Ingredients from Low Value Beef Co-products | Assess the feasibility of producing beef protein concentrates or powders for use as ingredients in food and beverage products. | June 2023 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Discovery of Innovative Health-based Consumer Value Propositions in Cherries | Utilise a digital screening tool to identify novel health-related properties of second-grade cherries. | June 2023 | Plant and Food Research |
| Polymers from Bread Waste | Investigate the possibility of utilising non-edible bread waste for production of polymers suitable for manufacturing bread packaging. | June 2023 | Plant and Food Research |
| PhD: Using cold plasma for offal disinfection | Investigate the use of cold plasma technology to reduce the microbial load on offal processed by micro-abattoirs, enabling its use as a high-value food ingredient. | March 2023 | AgResearch |
| DAF to Companion Petfood | Utilise the protein recovered from dairy plants’ DAF (dissolved air floatation) systems to create protein ingredients for petfood. | March 2023 | Callaghan Innovation |
| Waste Stream Valorisation of Underused NZ Seaweed Bioresources | Seek to extract value from the side streams from the process of making nanocellulose from seaweed, which is created from the by-product of seaweed fermentation. | March 2023 | Scion |
| Masters: Apple Fibre Production – Science Underpinning Process Optimisation | Exploration of the potential to manipulate the glass transition temperature of apple pomace with an initial hydrothermal treatment, which could improve the economics of drying the pomace. | March 2023 | Massey University |
| Vegetable Sheet Development | Produce a product similar to nori in appearance and functionality using vegetable pulp. | March 2023 | Massey University |
