Scholarship makes a real difference

Liam Porter’s Masters research offers exciting potential for the kiwifruit sector and he’s glad that a Horticulture postgraduate scholarship is enabling him to really focus on that.

Liam, aged 23, is in the second year of his Master of Science (MSc) with the University of Auckland, studying fruit quality attributes in novel kiwifruit hybrids.

His primary focus is investigating a hybrid cross between kiwiberries and golden kiwifruit with the aim of producing a fruit with even more health-associated compounds, including higher levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and other antioxidants.

Liam, who also works part time as a teaching assistant at the university, says being awarded the 2025 New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust Postgraduate Scholarship has made a real difference for him.

Having studied for his Bachelor of Science (BSc) in biochemistry and biological sciences closer to home at the University of Canterbury, he was facing a lot of additional living expenses after moving to Auckland.

The scholarship, worth $10,000, is for postgraduate students undertaking study specifically related to the fruit industry.

 “When I saw the criteria for the scholarship, I realised it was very close to the proposal I had written for my research.

“It has been really good for me this year. It has given me confidence that I can put as much time into my research and devote as much time to my studies as possible.

“The other really valuable part of the scholarship was that it included enabling me to attend the HortNZ conference this year.

“That was a really interesting and exciting experience, learning more about horticulture from supermarket chains through to the consumer and growers and how they are integrating pest management, and everything in between.

“I also got to meet a lot of really interesting people from the sector. You can get a bit pigeon-holed in science, so it was really interesting to get that broader context of horticulture.”

Liam grew up as a “city kid, who had a bit of contact with farming through relatives” but was always fascinated by science and living systems.

Having gained his BSc, he was keen to get more technical knowledge in the field and see where his interests really lay before pursuing further studies, so joined Canterbury-based Leaft Foods as a process operator.

The company is focused on producing human edible products from Rubisco, the protein in green leaves responsible for photosynthesis, including protein powders sourced from water lentils and alfalfa.

“The company was looking to work with growers growing winter crops for cows and plant their crops, like lucerne, which are also nitrogen fixers, in the off season, providing more value from the land,” says Liam.

“I worked there for a year before starting my MSc and it really sparked my interest in sustainable food systems and how we can produce food that is healthy and sustainable. At that time, they were an early startup but now they have product on the market.

“Kiwifruit is obviously a massive export market, and while there are quite a few varieties, there is always a desire for new cultivars and improvements in nutrition.”

Kiwifruit normally take three to five years to mature and produce fruit so, in order to be able to complete his research in a two-year timeframe, Liam is working, under the strictest biosecurity conditions, with GE cultivars which are modified to mature more rapidly.

“They are in a PC2 glasshouse, and the flowering repressor has been knocked out, so they produce flowers and fruit within as little as four to six months from germination, which is enabling me to undertake the research in my timeframe.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying it. I’m really interested in New Zealand food production and horticulture in particular and that’s where I see my future. I have just got a place on the Ministry for Primary Industries graduate programme, so my next step will be moving to Wellington for that.”