Wellington, Sep 8 (IANS): The New Zealand government on Thursday announced funding for 71 scientific research projects that seek to address some of the country's biggest challenges such as climate change.

The Endeavour Fund provides investment in projects which will help build a productive, sustainable and inclusive economy to improve the wellbeing of all living in New Zealand, Xinhua news agency quoted Minister for Research, Science and Innovation Ayesha Verrall as saying.

Some of the successful projects include developing new technology to reduce geothermal carbon emissions, forecasting future threats such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes and utilizing artificial intelligence to make future weather and climate projections, she said.

The projects also include finding ways to protect dolphins from toxoplasmosis, creating soil-less precision farming via ultraclean water production, and zero-emissions removal of nitrate from wastewater, she said.

The research priorities include tackling long-standing social issues, transitioning into low emissions and climate resilience, and building a more knowledge-intensive economy, the minister said.

The Endeavour Fund is New Zealand's largest contestable funding system to select excellent research proposals that will provide the highest potential impacts across a range of economic, environmental and societal objectives to transform the future, she said.

A total of NZ$236 million has been allocated in this funding round to 71 projects.