Announcing the inaugural New Zealand Biological Symposium

by | Nov 27, 2025 | Wharf42

I’m absolutely delighted to share the news that the inaugural New Zealand Biological Symposium with take place at the Tauranga Club in Tauranga on Thursday 12 February 2026.

Following this year’s successful inaugural Brisbane & ASEAN Biological Symposiums, February’s event will celebrate the opening of the Platform10 global office in the Bay of Plenty. And I’m stoked to advise that a number of key local and international partners will be joining us for the celebration.

I can already confirm some of the key Symposium presentations that will take place on the 12th.

  • New Zealand’s newly constituted Bioeconomy Science Institute will present their biological-focused pipeline and some examples across that, and how it supports Platform10.
  • Bay of Plenty based Zespri will provide details of their biological research work and how it supports kiwifruit growers transition away from chemical pesticides.
  • ‘A Lighter Touch’, a major HortNZ & Government initiative, will talk about how their program supports growers shift from a reliance on agri-chemistry to more sustainable crop protection practices.
  • Animal & Plant Health New Zealand (APHNZ) will share their vision & roadmap to achieve a balanced and science-based regulatory environment that gives members freedom to operate and grow in New Zealand.
  • The University of Waikato’s Coastal Marine Field Station will demonstrate how groundbreaking research on marine ecosystems & interdisciplinary collaboration is driving sustainability in New Zealand’s blue economy.
    This session will include an introduction to Agrisea’s seaweed research and commercial applications that last month saw Agrisea receive the 2025 New Zealand International Business Award for ‘Excellence in Sustainability’.
  • Fireside Chat: Karen Booth, Director, ACVM, at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will talk about the process her team follows to support the regulation of all agricultural and horticultural inputs into New Zealand’s primary sector.
  • Wharf42 is partnering with AgritechNZ to identify 5 early-stage New Zealand-based biological businesses to each deliver a 5-minute pitch to the Symposium delegates. If you are New Zealand-based and are interested in being part of this program, please email your interest and details to platform10@salinas-summit.com
I’m delighted that the Symposium will be joined in Tauranga by Dennis Donohue, Director, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology. Dennis, co-founder of Platform10, will be flying in from Salinas, California where we are co-hosting next year’s 2026 Salinas Biological Summit.
The inaugural New Zealand Biological Symposium is designed to bring together growers, researchers, innovators, policymakers & agribusinesses keen to build a connected ag biological community in New Zealand.

With Platform10’s global network of partners, Wharf42’s hope is that this community will be able to more effectively engage with the rapidly growing international biological movement.

You can learn more about the draft Symposium program in the ‘Registration Link’ below. Symposium tickets include access to all sessions, coffee/tea on arrival, a morning break, a light lunch & networking. Tickets are available today for $65, plus GST.

You can purchase your ticket here: https://events.humanitix.com/the-new-zealand-biological-symposium