Video: Grassroots innovation - celebrating advances in endophyte science
A talk by Dr Linda Johnson & Dr David Hume, members of the winning team of the 2024 Prime Minister's Science Prize.
Filmed on 24 July 2025 by Lincoln University
A Manawatū-based research team from AgResearch has recently won the prestigious Prime Minister’s Science Prize for their decades-long work developing new endophytes that enhance ryegrass – the most commonly sown pasture grass on New Zealand farms.
Endophytes are microorganisms that live within plants, benefiting both the plant and the microorganism. One of the endophytes the team discovered, known as AR37, promotes the growth of ryegrass and protects it from pests and diseases—without causing significant health issues or lowered productivity in grazing animals—delivering significant advantages for the farming sector.
In this talk, they share the fascinating story about their research journey – one that has had a profound impact on New Zealand’s agricultural sector and economy.
View more about the winning Prime Minister's Science Prize team.