Farmers are warning job losses under a proposed restructure at a top agricultural research unit will be damaging to science in New Zealand.

Crown-owned AgResearch has announced plans to cut 83 science jobs, with animal health, pasture growth and greenhouse gas research some of the areas facing the axe.

The proposal would see 83 scientist and technician jobs cut with 27 new roles created in areas AgResearch says has "growing customer demand".

But the PSA says scientists who lose their jobs will simply go overseas.

"Also those members who won't lose their jobs are frustrated, they're fearful of the future, and will also be checking out their options," assistant secretary Jeff Osborne says.

AgResearch chairman Sam Robinson says the organisation is expecting a reduction in income of $5.7 million "because there's areas of science that are no longer being required or funded by industry partners".

The Association of Scientists says AgResearch's core funding has been volatile for years and the government funding model is set up so commercially oriented research becomes the main focus.

AgResearch will make a final decision on the restructure after a month's consultation. Source: 1 NEWS

Professor Jacqueline Rowarth says there's "quite an emphasis on how quickly can you bring in dollars from industry or from consultancy" and she says that's very difficult to show in climate research.

But the Science Minister says that's how it should be and he says there has been no change to the total amount of agricultural research and environmental research.

"Crown research institutes are about commercial science that's why they're there," Steven Joyce says. "The pure science tends to be done more at universities."

However farmers are concerned the restructure might undermine AgResearch's work, saying the organisation's technology and knowledge has had a major impact on the dairy, beef and sheep industries.

"Any undermining of those capabilities is something we're very worried about because ultimately it will impact on our export income," Federated Farmers chief executive Graham Smith says.