Press Release
Plant Research (NZ) Limited
Plant Research (NZ) Ltd, a privately-owned plant breeding and research company based in Christchurch New Zealand, has
released two new field pea varieties designed for the emerging pea ingredients market.
The use of field peas for producing a wide range of new foods is increasing rapidly globally. Plant Research (NZ) Ltd
together with it’s USA based breeding partner have been working for 10 years to develop the two new varieties. Both
companies have linkages with major feed ingredient companies who are helping to understand key traits that are important
for fractionation and ingredients for different products.
Plant Research Ltd Managing Director Adrian Russell says that “because of the wide range of products being developed
from pea protein, starch and fibre products globally, new varieties are needed that target specific end-users. These two
yellow pea varieties are the first step to servicing these new markets.”
New Zealand is well placed to produce ingredients from grain for emerging new food products. Vegetable protein will be
increasingly used to produce healthy and environmentally friendly food products for a world that is increasingly
demanding alternatives to the existing paradigm for producing food.
Both varieties are currently being multiplied in the USA and New Zealand and are being tested extensively with
collaborators to ensure that their agronomic and functional traits are meeting customer’s needs.