The University of Auckland and Plant & Food Research hope to increase the pool of young scientists working in these fields.
A joint graduate school in plant and food science has been created with the goal of doubling the number of post-graduate students studying in those areas to at least 100 by 2015.
Plant & Food chief scientist Ian Ferguson says the institute and the university already work together on student research programmes.
As well as research programmes, Auckland University Dean of Science, Professor Grant Guilford, says they hope to offer training for students looking at careers in plant and food science.
