02/06/2026
Today we celebrate an incredible honour for an even more incredible person - Dr Ron Beatson, who has been awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to horticulture.
Dr Ron has devoted his entire career to advancing hop breeding in New Zealand. Over more than 40 years, he led the hop research and development programme at Plant & Food Research, (now known at the Bioeconomy Science Institute) working closely with growers and scientists to shape the future of the industry. Thanks to his leadership, many of the hop varieties grown and exported from New Zealand today, including world-renowned favourites, were developed.
Even in retirement, Dr Ron’s impact hasn’t slowed. As Brand Ambassador for NZ Hops Ltd, he continues to champion New Zealand hops on the global stage, sharing his knowledge and passion at international conferences and industry events. He’s such a legend, we even named one of our hops, Nectaron®, in his honour.
Dr Ron’s dedication, expertise, and generosity have left a lasting legacy on our industry and inspired so many along the way. We couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.
Congratulations, Dr Ron 💚
