The government-funded research body, AgResearch, has unveiled plans for a new division including more than 70 scientists with expertise in food safety, microbiology, nutrition and muscle physiology.

This new food, metabolism and microbiology section, the result of the merger of the Meat Quality & Safety and Metabolism & Microbial Genomics sections, will become the organisation's biggest.

Both sections are involved in research into useful as well as pathogenic micro-organisms. They are also pioneering new technologies that have application in both the dairy and meat industries.

New section manager Dr Warren McNabb said: "Scientists from the previous sections have complementary skills in areas such as food safety, microbiology, nutrition and muscle physiology. Bringing them together will create synergies and advance the practice of meat science in New Zealand."

Meat is one of the primary sector's most valuable products and New Zealand sees the rising wealth of countries like China and India as new sales opportunities for its meat producres.

Dr McNabb says the new section presents an opportunity for AgResearch to capitalise on the good name that the Meat Industry Research Institute of New Zealand (MIRINZ became part of AgResearch in 1999) has both nationally and internationally.

The researchers will also investigate the nutritional properties of meat.