Marlborough’s hub of research and innovation

The Marlborough Research Centre (MRC) Trust has provided the backbone for a long legacy of scientific research and development for the horticultural and agricultural sectors. Over the past four decades, work conducted at the MRC’s two locations near Blenheim by its various occupants, such as Plant & Food Research, the Bragato Research Institute and Sustainable Winegrowing NZ, has benefited the primary sector both regionally and nationally.

Nick Kole, Fruitfed Supplies Marlborough Area Sales Manager, appreciates the MRC’s contributions to the horticultural sector since its inception and the potential it supports for future industry innovation.

“The MRC is an incredible asset for us regionally, with numerous benefits for the viticultural and wider horticultural sectors,” says Nick. “It offers opportunities for collaboration and information sharing between industry participants, such as ourselves, and MRC members.”

John Patterson became MRC’s Chief Executive in July this year when Gerald Hope stepped down from the role after 30+ years. Prior to commencing as Chief Executive, John was an Associate of MRC providing advisory support to the Trust.

John explains the Trust’s role as “an independent charitable trust and an umbrella organisation for the New Zealand Wine Centre. The Trust supports Marlborough’s primary industries and the regional strengths in wine, horticulture, agriculture, pastoral farming, forestry and aquaculture. The broad vision of the Trustees and our day-to-day operations is to support the need for locally-based scientific research to grow the regional economy. 

“While the growth of the wine industry has dominated Marlborough’s landscape over the last 20 years, the Trust also plays a leading role in the development of dry land farming practices, the broader food and beverage sector, and forestry through its durable eucalypt hardwood programme. 

“The trust supports our rural communities and primary producers through facilitation, and is open to assisting all primary sectors and business who have innovative ideas and research opportunities which will improve our regional economy.”

The idea for the research centre stems from a 1976 soil science research trip to Israel by Blenheim horticulturalist Bob de Castro. Following this trip, Rob James, a DSIR Liaison Officer responsible for the top of the South Island, was tasked with advancing the idea. At the time, he said, “In those days the Wairau Plain was just sheep and stones and if the wind blew, the stones moved. There was a crying need for some experimental work, but it didn’t just happen out of the blue. It took a lot of meetings and a lot of persuasion to get people to see a new point of view.”

With the foresight and financial support of the Marlborough United Council, DSIR, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Marlborough community, the MRC Grovetown Park campus was established in 1984. In 2004, the Marlborough Wine Research Centre of Excellence was opened on a new Budge Street campus. The co-location with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) strengthened education opportunities in the community. Over the last ten years, 445 equivalent full-time students (EFTS) have undertaken viticulture training and winemaking programmes at NMIT with 227 international students also attracted to learn at the campus.

The MRC Trust recently marked its 40th anniversary with the opening of Te Whenua Tupu, the Living Lab, on the Budge Street campus.

The Living Lab allows researchers to study the effect of the environment, both above and below the soil, on growth and development of plants, and develop tools and technologies to help future-proof the horticultural sector. Its climate-controlled, 600 m2 enclosed space where 48 full-size potted plants can be grown and studied.