12 October 2023 Showcasing Professor Rainer Hofmann's groundbreaking research on sustainable plant innovation.

Variety not only is the spice of life, it is life’s very essence, manifested in a myriad of ways in the natural world. Biodiversity is the key factor in ecosystem resilience. Understanding and utilising biological diversity therefore is a powerful tool to bolster the resilience of our changing world. By drawing inspiration from nature's playbook, we can utilise genetic variation within and between plant species to tackle the dual challenge of meeting food security under increasingly stressful environmental conditions.

This presentation will showcase several plant-based approaches from NZ and overseas that are part of climate-smart, sustainable intensification practices in agriculture. A case in point is the Pacific region, where such approaches are now becoming the norm, after decades of degradation of fragile agroecosystems. Sustainable innovation that synthesises plant diversity and new technologies with optimal resource use is key to strengthen these systems against the mounting challenges posed by climate change.

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As a plant physiologist, I work in a branch of science that studies how plants work: mechanisms such as photosynthesis, formation of primary and secondary metabolites, hormones (plant growth regulators) and water transport are examples of functional plant biology. I use physiological and biochemical tools to examine plant-environment interactions, with a main focus on plant stress resistance. 

Most of this work is related to climate change resilience. To address this challenge, I work closely with molecular biologists, plant breeders, agronomists, ecologists, social scientists and related disciplines. 

My research platform includes a number of national and international collaborations, including NZ Crown Research Institutes, industry and other universities in NZ as well as overseas. Our work is regularly cited in UN reports, and I have a special research interest in sustainable agriculture projects in the Pacific Islands region.

I have served at university- and national levels in variety of functions, including as Head of Department and as the President of the NZ Society of Plant Biologists. I love bringing the beauty of plants and how they work to my students, and am recipient of a national Ako Aotearoa Sustained Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award.