New Zealand labs could soon start mass-producing “dairy-identical” proteins without using cows. The EPA has approved an application from Daisy Lab to scale up its work on “precision fermentation.” In this case, yeasts are genetically modified so that when they are fermented they produce a protein like whey or casein—with any GM organisms harvested out of the final product. The SMC asked experts to comment. Dr Rob Burton, Research Professor, Ruralis – Institute for Rural and Regional Research, Norway, comments: “Precision fermentation has been used for decades to produce products such as insuli ..read more

The Environmental Protection Authority has approved the import and release of four insects in the Manawatū-Whanganui region to control the spread of purple loosestrife, an invasive wetland weed. Purple loosestrife is highly aggressive, displacing native wetland vegetation and disrupting ecosystems. It is hoped that the release of these beetles will prevent or dramatically slow more widespread infestations across Aotearoa. The SMC asked experts to comment. Please feel free to use these comments in your reporting or follow up with the contact details provided. Dr Angela Bowne ..read more

Overnight, the World Health Organization hosted a webinar on the public health risk of avian influenza (H5N1) recently detected in dairy cattle in the US. H5N1 has decimated wild birds and poultry populations worldwide, and spilled over into a number of mammal species. Scientists believe the virus might be passing from cow to cow in US dairy farms, and one case of a human contracting the disease after contact with infected cattle has been confirmed. H5N1 has not yet been detected in New Zealand, Australia or the Pacific Islands. The SMC has previously gathere ..read more

From next year, the government expects all public schools to teach students to read with a ‘structured literacy approach’. Yesterday’s pre-Budget announcement committed $67 million to support professional development for teachers, books and resources, phonics checks, and additional support for students that need it. This morning, Education Minister Erica Stanford confirmed that reading recovery programmes in schools would be cut as part of the shake-up. The SMC asked experts to comment.  Professor Gail Gillon, Director – Child Wellbeing Institute, University of Ca ..read more

A New Zealand study shows a tenfold increase in the amount of ADHD medication dispensed for adults between 2006 and 2022, but the majority of those with the condition still aren’t receiving treatment. Authors of the study suggest the ongoing treatment gap is caused by a strained mental health workforce, meaning the gap mostly affects those without the resources to go through the private health sector. The SMC asked experts to comment.  Dr Ben Beaglehole, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, comments: Note: Dr Beaglehole is the le ..read more

Our team is growing! We are looking for an experienced journalist or exceptional science communicator to join our small, dedicated team. We are an independent, trusted source of resources that reporters and newsrooms rely on, improving the reach and relevance of media coverage of science, health, environment, technology, social and related issues in Aotearoa New Zealand. We work in a fast-paced environment, immersed in a wide range of research topics and responding rapidly to breaking news stories. You’ll need to be able to make sense of essential information on issues you’re encountering for ..read more

Samoa will fumigate schools and hospitals in an effort to kill mosquitoes carrying the potentially life-threatening dengue virus. The Pacific Island country has declared a dengue outbreak with over 200 confirmed cases, and health officials estimating many more have already been infected. The SMC asked experts to comment. Dr Joan Ingram, Medical Advisor, Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC), comments: “Dengue is a common mosquito-borne viral disease widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical world. “Cases of dengue have increased over six-fold since 2000. It is e ..read more

Climate change is projected to reduce the income of the global economy by 19% by 2049, and Aotearoa will be among the countries feeling the pinch. An international study projects that NZ’s income will be 2-10% lower than if there was no climate change, with much of the impacts arising from changes to average temperatures and annual rainfall. Professor Ilan Noy, Chair in the Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Victoria University of Wellington, comments: “The authors of this paper clearly show that the transition to sustainable energy sources is significantly less cos ..read more

Submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill close at the end of Friday. The law would allow major infrastructure projects to bypass lengthy resource consenting processes – being assessed instead by an expert panel, with Ministers ultimately having the final say on projects. The SMC asked experts to comment. Dr Caroline Miller, Honorary Research Fellow, Massey University, comments: “The Minister for the Environment seems completely missing from this legislation, which seems to suggest that an environmental perspective has been completely sidelined. It is astonishing that such significant devel ..read more

They’ve been called a “secret weapon” in the fight against climate change. So what exactly do New Zealand’s wetlands offer, especially when it comes to absorbing carbon? Aotearoa has lost around 90 percent of its wetlands in the past 150 years and this trend is continuing, as highlighted in the recently released Our Land 2024 report. The National Wetland Trust is currently holding its first symposium since the Covid-19 pandemic, which will cover the role of wetlands in providing life-supporting ecosystem services across the country and the threats they face. The SMC asked experts to explain th ..read more