A by-product of the system is how a senior Cabinet Minister is describing job losses at AgResearch.

The state owned research organisation is to cut 32 scientist and 46 technician roles, in restructuring.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce said it's obviously difficult for the people involved, but it's not unheard of for Crown Research Institutes to have organisational change.

He said there have been others over the last six or seven years that have had to make changes when their funding's changed.

"The reality of a contestable science model where most people are in favour of contestable research is that sometimes contracts end and changes have to be made."

The Government said its confident the job losses won't see scientific expertise lost offshore.

The Public Service Association believes many of those facing losing their jobs will end up overseas and their talents lost to New Zealand.

But Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce thinks the reverse will happen.

He said New Zealand is one of the few countries that is expanding its science system and more jobs are appearing across a range of disciplines