As a Senior Scientist with AgResearch, New Zealand, Dr Tanushree B Gupta is leading a team working on reducing incidences of facial eczema in livestock.
Global warming is expected to exacerbate the prevalence of facial eczema, and current interventions include harmful substances which are toxic to the environment. Facial eczema, caused by a fungus found in decaying plant matter, is a substantial economic burden for New Zealand and Australian agriculture, resulting in losses in the hundreds of millions dollars each year. AgResearch is currently focused on eradicating the fungus by reducing the germination of the fungal spores in pasture with the development of an antifungal product with safe and eco-friendly active ingredients. The compound is water soluble, facilitating easy application through spraying and increasing affordability.
Dr Gupta sees potential for her research into natural antifungal solutions for facial eczema to extend its relevance beyond animal farm production to other applications, including the development of fungicides for crop protection.
For Dr Gupta, the Catalyst Program presents an opportunity to deepen her understanding of the commercial aspect of research and development and give her a platform to advocate for this important research and innovation.