Lincoln Agritech works with leading international research partners to tackle complex scientific challenges, from plant disease detection to next‑generation energy storage. Our collaborations span major global research programmes and multidisciplinary consortia, turning science into practical, real‑world solutions.
Plant Disease
Lincoln Agritech is a proven and experienced partner in Horizon Europe, one of Europe’s flagship funding programmes for research and innovation.
Case study: Early detection of plant disease
We are a member of the 14‑partner STELLA Horizon Europe consortium, developing an integrated digital platform to support early detection of plant diseases and pests.
Lincoln Agritech’s contribution focuses on:
- Using advanced sensing technologies to detect fungal diseases before visible symptoms appear
- Developing digital decision‑support tools to help apple growers manage diseases such as bull’s‑eye rot
This work supports earlier intervention, reduced crop losses, and more sustainable orchard management.
Battery Technologies
Our multidisciplinary team is designing next‑generation battery technologies, contributing to global efforts to deliver reliable, long‑duration energy storage for renewable power systems.
This includes an active three‑year, government‑funded research project investigating new materials for lithium‑ion batteries.
Using high‑performance computing, we are accelerating the search for alternative battery materials that:
- Avoid critical raw materials
- Use naturally sourced carbon
- Provide an environmentally responsible pathway to long‑duration energy storage
Case study: Materials for grid‑scale energy storage
Decarbonising New Zealand’s energy grid requires widespread adoption of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Because these sources are intermittent, reliable long‑duration energy storage is essential to maintain energy security.
At Lincoln Agritech, we research next‑generation battery electrodes, using advanced computer modelling to rapidly screen and identify new materials suitable for large‑scale battery installations. Our focus is on materials that are:
- Sustainably sourced
- High‑performance
- Scalable for grid‑level deployment
Our work includes an active three‑year Marsden Fund grant investigating new lithium‑ion battery materials. We are also a key stakeholder in a 12‑country science and industry consortium advancing potassium‑ion batteries (KIBs) as a complementary solution for long‑duration energy storage, using components free from critical raw materials and biomass‑derived carbon anodes.
Lincoln Agritech researchers are investigators in the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology and work closely with the New Zealand Product Accelerator to ensure research outcomes are industry‑driven and deliver practical, sustainable impact.
