Marine biotech in spotlight when Tauranga hosts international summit

Professor Chris Battershill says Blue2Green is designed to splice research interests, and explore new opportunities with a central theme of environmental sustainability. Photo/File

The Western Bay's growing reputation as the centre for innovation has led to Tauranga hosting the International Marine Biotechnology Convention, which will be held in New Zealand for the first time.

The Blue2Green Marine Biotechnology Convention will take place from August 8-10.
It will constitute a joint meeting between the newly formed Australia New Zealand Marine
Biotechnology Society (a member of the International Marine Biotechnology Association), the International Conference on Coastal Biotechnology (convened in China), and the New Zealand Aquaculture Science Association.

In addition, the Korean Society for Marine Biotechnology will be sending a delegation.

Speakers include Professor Ben Hankamer, director of the Centre for Solar Biotechnology at the University of Queensland; Dr Eva Anderson from the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Norway; Professor of Aquaculture Rocky de Nys (James Cook University); and Professor Song Qin (Chinese Academy of Science) who is vice-chairman of the International Marine Biotechnology Association (IMBA).

The three-day programme will present the latest science and industry updates relating to marine biotechnology and feature keynote and plenary presentations across three themes: Sustainability; Marine biotechnology for the future; and Mātauranga Māori.

The convention would be hosted at the Tauranga Yacht Club and interested members of the public are welcome but must register and pay fees, as shown on the bbuetogreen.co.nz website.

Two field trips were part of the programme - the first titled Oysters & Honey, to Ohiwa Harbour in the Eastern Bay and calling at Comvita's honey processing plant at Paengaroa; the second, Seaweed & Robotics, includes a visit to Newnham Innovation Park in Bethlehem.

Professor Chris Battershill, chair of Coastal Science at the University of Waikato, director of the Coastal Marine Field Station and convention chairman, said Blue2Green was designed to splice research interests and explore new opportunities with a central theme of environmental sustainability linked to the development of new, high-value marine industries.

"This convention will demonstrate how we can harness existing international excellence across marine biotechnological sciences to fast-track sustainable wealth creation through novel application of marine biotechnologies, additionally examining how these very technologies can be used to aid repair or to strengthen environments under threat," he said.

With the Global Marine Biotechnology market predicted to reach $US5.9 billion ($8.106b at current exchange rates) by 2022, Dr Battershill says the convention is seen as an opportunity to strengthen research and development ties among the represented Pacific Rim countries and Australasia.

The theme of the convention is Toitu te Moana, Toitu te Tangata - Sustainability of the Sea, Sustainability of the People.

It was convened by scientists from the University of Waikato, Priority One, Flinders University, James Cook University, Cawthron Institute, Toi Ohomai, the International Marine Biotechnology Association and the Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research.

For more information and to register visit the website www.blue2green.co.nz