Joint Graduate School of Horticulture and Food Enterprise , Kura Tāura Ahumāra Kai

The Joint Graduate School provides research opportunities in plant breeding, pest and disease control, increasing production yield, post-harvest and processing.

What we do

The Joint Graduate School of Horticulture and Food Enterprise has been established to provide world-class postgraduate research opportunities for master's and PhD students.

Our areas of expertise include:

  • plant breeding
  • pest and disease control
  • increasing production yield
  • post-harvest
  • processing.

We create world-beating scientific understanding in model systems using cutting edge science.

The Joint Graduate School of Horticulture and Food Enterprise is an exciting joint venture between:

It brings together some of the top horticultural and food academics and scientists in New Zealand to research together. That research will make a difference in the production of high-quality food to meet a growing global need and to benefit human health and wellbeing.

Study with us

The Joint Graduate School of Horticulture and Food Enterprise is interested in hearing from students holding suitable academic qualifications and interested in master's or doctoral-level research in any of the school’s areas of expertise.

Choose from a range of qualifications, with study options such as horticultural science and food technology.

Explore by area of interest

Explore a selection of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications related to your interests.

Study agriculture & horticulture

Learn about food, farming and agribusiness at Massey. We've taught agriculture and horticulture since 1927. Find out your study options today.

Massey farms Massey farms Massey farms Massey farms

Study food & nutrition

Get the most out of food. The most flavour. The best nutrition. Safe and efficient production processes. Learn from world-class lecturers and researchers.

Smiling person in lab coat puts plant samples in a machine Smiling person in lab coat puts plant samples in a machine Smiling person in lab coat puts plant samples in a machine Smiling person in lab coat puts plant samples in a machine

Doctoral research

If you are interested in pursuing a higher research degree with us, find out more about our PhD qualifications and programmes.

You may also have an opportunity to be placed in a research programme with one of our partner organisations.

Our people

The Joint Graduate School of Horticulture and Food Enterprise includes experts across the fields of horticulture and food enterprise, from both Massey and Plant & Food Research.

Massey staff

Professor Paul Kenyon

Professor Paul Kenyon

PhD, MAppSc, BAgrSc
Head of School, Professor in Sheep Husbandry, Doctoral Supervisor
Phone
Department
School of Agriculture and Environment
Campus
Manawatū campus, Palmerston North
Dr Jason Wargent

Dr Jason Wargent

Senior Lecturer in Horticulture
Phone
Department
School of Agriculture and Environment
Campus
Manawatū campus, Palmerston North
Professor Julian Heyes

Professor Julian Heyes

PGDipDevStud, PhD, BSc(Hons)
Head of School, Professor of Postharvest Technology, Doctoral Supervisor
Phone
Department
School of Food and Advanced Technology
Campus
Manawatū campus, Palmerston North
Dr Svetla Sofkova-Bobcheva

Dr Svetla Sofkova-Bobcheva

PhD
Senior Lecturer in Horticulture Production, Doctoral Supervisor
Phone
Department
School of Agriculture and Environment
Campus
Manawatū campus, Palmerston North
Professor Sarah McLaren

Professor Sarah McLaren

PhD, MSc, BSc(Hons)
Professor of Life Cycle Management, Doctoral Supervisor
Phone
Department
School of Agriculture and Environment
Campus
Manawatū campus, Palmerston North
Professor Richard Archer

Professor Richard Archer

PhD, BTech(Hons)
Professor of Food Sciences and Technology
Phone
Department
School of Food and Advanced Technology
Campus
Manawatū campus, Palmerston North
Professor Andrew East

Professor Andrew East

PhD, BEng(Hons)
Director for the Massey Agrifood Technology Partnership
Phone
Department
School of Food and Advanced Technology
Campus
Manawatū campus, Palmerston North
Professor Marlena Kruger

Professor Marlena Kruger

MSc, PhD
Associate Dean Higher Degree Research,Doctoral Mentor Supervisor,Professor in Nutritional Physiology
Department
School of Health Sciences
College
College of Health
Campus
Manawatū campus, Palmerston North

Professor Kruger is an established academic with over 200 peer reviewed publications. She is a world renowned expert on lipids and bone health. Her main focus in research includes dairy foods, bioactives and lipids in bone health. Her current research focuses on marine foods and bioactives for maintaining bone and joint health and mobility.

Joint partners

Massey University

We are New Zealand’s defining university. For more than 80 years, Massey has helped shape the lives and communities of people in New Zealand and around the world with its forward-thinking spirit, research-led teaching, and cutting-edge discoveries.

Massey is a world leader in agri-food research. Its expertise in food innovation covers:

  • disciplines of agriculture, horticulture and bio-security
  • packaging
  • refrigeration
  • nutritional balance and food safety
  • food technology
  • engineering.

The environmental sustainability of food supply is always at the centre of Massey research activity.

Plant & Food Research

Plant & Food Research is a New Zealand Government-owned Crown Research Institute. It provides science that adds value to fruit, vegetable, crop and food products.

Its science supports the sustainable production of high-quality produce that earns a premium in international markets. It also develops new healthy, functional foods that are beneficial to human wellbeing.

Plant & Food Research works with the Joint Graduate School particularly on:

  • breeding and genomics
  • bioprotection
  • sustainable production
  • food innovation.

Food HQ

Food HQ is a research collaboration that aims to enable the nation's food exports to reach NZ$60 billion by 2025. The super-campus, based in Palmerston North, encompasses the Fitzherbert Science Centre and Massey's Manawatū campus in Palmerston North. It is home to more than 4,000 researchers and educators involved in the agrifood chain.

Food HQ further unifies the relationships between:

  • AgResearch
  • Fonterra
  • Massey University
  • Plant & Food Research
  • AsureQuality
  • the Riddet Institute
  • Environmental Science and Research
  • the BCC.

It is supported by the Palmerston North City Council and Manawatū District Councils.

Massey University

Massey is a leading New Zealand university, world-renowned for its unique practical programmes, ground-breaking research, and online courses.

Learn more

Plant & Food Research

Plant & Food Research is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute. Its purpose is to enhance the value and productivity of New Zealand's horticultural, arable, seafood and food & beverage industries.

Learn more

Food HQ

Food HQ offers food companies and innovators access to one of the world's leading clusters of food science expertise and facilities.

Learn more