Supporting the Growth of Thriving and Sustainable Hops and Craft Beer Industries in New Zealand
Waht we Do
Purpose
Hāpi Research is a collaborative, industry-led initiative dedicated to advancing New Zealand’s craft beer and hop sectors. Our mission is to foster a thriving, sustainable future for both industries through innovation, best-practice support, and global market development.
Innovation
At the heart of our work is the Hāpi Research hop breeding programme, focused on creating premium, uniquely New Zealand hop varieties. Alongside this, our precision agriculture projects are developing cutting-edge growing and processing techniques to enhance quality and efficiency..
Frontier
By connecting growers, brewers, and researchers, we help Kiwi brewers build sustainable points of difference and tap into exciting new markets, ensuring New Zealand remains at the forefront of craft beer and hop excellence.
Projects
Hop Breeding
At the cornerstone of Hāpi Research is our hops breeding programme. This programme, currently under development, aims to produce uniquely New Zealand premium hops. We employ classical breeding methods, combined with advanced molecular techniques, to enhance the speed and efficiency of breeding. The main goal is to commercialise three new premium varietals and support the release of three royalty-free varietals.
Precision Farming and Hop Processing
A key project at Hāpi Research is the development of precision agriculture practices for hops, as well as the improvement of hop processing practices. We are researching optimal growing, harvesting and processing strategies to deliver unique flavours and aromas from the field to the glass. This project will also explore the impacts of regional terroir on flavour and aromas.
Our current projects focus on remote plant health monitoring, harvest timing, drying, and pelletizing. Before the 2019 harvest, we successfully initiated projects in these areas. These projects are all focused on existing varieties, with the learnings expected to be fully transferable to new varieties. With these projects successfully initiated, analysis will be conducted on the data from the field as well as trial brewing.
Uniquely New Zealand Craft Beer
Hāpi aims to support craft brewers in creating uniquely New Zealand craft beers. We are working to understand and maximise the unique New Zealand flavours achievable from hops grown here.
Our trial brewing programme, currently in development, aims to create a framework that will successfully capture sensory and fermentation data. In conjunction with this, we are also working to develop novel sources of sensory feedback from consumers.
New Hop Varietes
It’s all about hops that deliver. From cutting-edge breeding to hands-on collaboration with brewers, they’re obsessed with creating hops that truly perform in the glass. No fluff — just unrivalled flavour, aroma, and real results in finished beer.
Ready to explore hops with real impact?
Hāpi Progress report
Hāpi – Brewing Success
This programme will help New Zealand growers and brewers to explore new opportunities for premium hop growing and craft beer. It aims to make New Zealand globally recognised for unique, premium hops and craft beers.
