28 Mar 2012

Genetically tailored diets could benefit farmers - AgResearch

3:36 pm on 28 March 2012

An AgResearch scientist says the advent of genetically tailored diets could provide opportunities for new niche products for farmers.

Matthew Barnett, a senior research scientist specialising in food and health at the Crown Research Institute, was one of several speakers at the NZ BIO conference discussing the new technology and its possible benefits for New Zealand.

Dr Barnett says there are already companies which can relatively cheaply analyse people's genes to see what types of foods are best for them.

He says farmers in New Zealand could cash in on this technology by producing foods tailored to improve the health of people with different needs.

Mr Barnett says that type of product would have added value and could create a greater profit for farmers.