{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-article-entry-tsx","path":"/en-au/article/peter-buchanan-a-life-of-fungi/","result":{"data":{"contentful":{"article":{"sys":{"id":"7dOCrnUZZN1irYEaBDg7fu","publishedVersion":14},"headSnippet":null,"title":"Peter Buchanan - A life of fungi","urlSlug":"peter-buchanan-a-life-of-fungi","metaDescription":"Dr Hilary Ireland sits down with recently retired mycologist Dr Peter Buchanan, whose remarkable 50-year career has helped transform our understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand's fungi.","byline":null,"heroBlurb":null,"eventDate":null,"contentType":{"sys":{"id":"1SYTApJiYGwV5qPzu1RTOs","publishedVersion":8},"name":"Podcasts","singularName":"Podcast"},"podcast":{"channel":{"applePodcastUrl":"https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/scigest-plant-food-research-podcasts/id1299894180","spotifyPodcastUrl":"https://open.spotify.com/show/5FdJI8XCh2IQxPTstEl2lF","rssUrlSlug":"rss-podcasts","label":"Scigest","description":"Welcome to Scigest - podcast-sized servings of digestible science from the Bioeconomy Science Institute. Join us as we explore the advancements and impact our scientists are making in advancing innovation in agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, biotechnology and manufacturing; protecting ecosystems from biosecurity threats and climate risks; and developing new bio-based technologies and products. Listen to our scientists as they share and discuss current research in Aotearoa New Zealand, and beyond in this award-winning podcast collection. Make sure to visit www.plantandfood.com/scigest for even more information on Scigest!\n\nTo help you discover the podcast topics and research that interests you, Scigest is split into series, each covering different scientific topics. The series are as follows: \n\nPPF: People|Planet|Food\nFTS: From the sea\nFTL: From the land\nBDIS: Biosecurity, disease and insect science\nSTK: Science in the kitchen\nNT: New technologies\nID: International development\nSLFM: Science life for me (Our people)\nSMAS: Science movers and shakers\nSIS: Starting in science","author":"New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited","email":"scigest@plantandfood.co.nz"},"file":{"title":"Peter Buchanan - A life of fungi","url":"https://downloads.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/cniC3Cup5lkBhDdwYa0Vw/a5dbea03c729c7afe72552bb5281c7e9/peter-buchanan-a-life-of_fungi.mp3"},"description":"Fungi underpin the health of our ecosystems, yet they're one of the least understood groups of organisms. In this episode of Scigest, host Dr Hilary Ireland sits down with recently retired mycologist Dr Peter Buchanan, whose remarkable 50-year career has helped transform our understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand's fungi.\n \nIn the first of this two-part conversation, Peter shares the experiences that shaped his career and lifelong interest in fungi. He discusses fungal diversity, the importance of taxonomy and plant pathology, and the role fungi play in crop production, disease management and post-harvest storage. Peter also reflects on how molecular biology has transformed fungal research, opening new opportunities to understand fungal relationships, identify pathogens and improve disease management.\nPart 2 of this conversation will be available from 17 August.    \n\nVegetable caterpillar fungi link: www.sciencelearn.org.nz/videos/768-vegetable-caterpillar-fungi\nPeter Buchanan profile: www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1445-dr-peter-buchanan\n\nTo view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest\n\n","title":"Peter Buchanan - A life of fungi"},"cardImage":{"sys":{"id":"3FT1TYvnBCrWv9Cr8eSS7h","publishedVersion":4},"url":"https://images.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/3FT1TYvnBCrWv9Cr8eSS7h/29286fcab78106dc1a59c436bce9f296/podcast-2026-peter-buchanan-a-life-of-fungi.jpg","title":"Peter Buchanan - A life of fungi","height":1406,"width":2500,"contentType":"image/jpeg"},"shareImage":{"url":"https://images.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/3FT1TYvnBCrWv9Cr8eSS7h/29286fcab78106dc1a59c436bce9f296/podcast-2026-peter-buchanan-a-life-of-fungi.jpg"},"publishDate":"2026-08-03T00:00:00.000+12:00","content":null,"contactBlock":{"__typename":"Contentful_BlockGetInTouch","sys":{"id":"3vtnDWOEZfTHV2fURsAIO1","publishedVersion":39},"heading":"Get in touch","subHeading":"Interested?","colourway":{"label":"Purple"},"callToAction":{"__typename":"Contentful_Link","sys":{"id":"6duaiOQrpF2reo5g7x0uRd","publishedVersion":7},"label":"Contact Us","externalUrl":null,"internalPageQueryString":null,"openInNewTab":null,"internalPage":{"__typename":"Contentful_Page","urlSlug":"contact-us"},"variant":"Primary","buttonSize":"large","file":null},"image":{"__typename":"Contentful_ImageWithFocalPoint","sys":{"id":"57Egf2RaZ9AoZ0DHpZMbAz","publishedVersion":3},"focalPoint":{"focalPoint":{"x":1201,"y":388}},"image":{"sys":{"id":"2auskQdAfK9HTQwqy8X1eW","publishedVersion":4},"url":"https://images.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/2auskQdAfK9HTQwqy8X1eW/1f04e3f46bb9358358ac9173464795d0/image3.png","title":"Get in Touch","height":792,"width":1440,"contentType":"image/png"}}},"creditsCollection":{"items":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Hilary","lastName":"Ireland","urlSlug":"hilary-ireland","bio":"Kia ora, I am a plant molecular biologist specialising in the genetics of flower and fruit development important for fruit set, size, shape and structure. My PhD took an evolutionary perspective on the genetic regulation of apple fruit flesh development through comparison of apple with a dry-fruiting relative. \nI have the privilege of being the Plant & Food Research Early Career Researcher Liaison, working alongside the talented early-career students and staff both at Plant & Food Research and the Science NZ member organisations. I have the pleasure of being a Scigest podcaster and enjoy helping other scientists share their stories.","photo":{"sys":{"id":"3hXRs9Gheon825mDsM2IyY","publishedVersion":5},"url":"https://images.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/3hXRs9Gheon825mDsM2IyY/a4393060957e5c434ad47f85f3888a61/profile-photo-hilary-ireland.jpg","title":"Hilary Ireland ","height":3279,"width":3279,"contentType":"image/jpeg"}}]},"marketingTeamCredit":false,"researchAreasCollection":{"items":[]},"sectorsCollection":{"items":[]}}}},"pageContext":{"id":"7dOCrnUZZN1irYEaBDg7fu","preview":false,"language":"en-au","intl":{"language":"en-au","languages":["en-nz","en-au","pt-br"],"messages":{"usefulLinksHeading":"Useful Links","footerNewsletterSubscribeHeading":"Subscribe to our newsletter","footerNewsletterSubscribeSuccess":"Thanks for subscribing!","formValidation.unexpectedError":"An unexpected error has occurred. 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