Developments

FWF after lucrative Japanese market

In the picture: David Musgrave managing director. From Regional Manufacturing a section of NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz Eve Johnson sits on the board of Functional Wholesale Products and has come back into the company as Development Manager. Eve has worked with FWF for 11 years now and was formally CEO. She shares with NZ Manufacturer plans for the future. Functional Whole Foods Limited, based in Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand specialises in the production of high quality, cold pressed flax seed oil and seed meal. The Company formulates these products with other natural extracts to produce and market a range of products with particular health benefits. The products are sold widely throughout New Zealand and a number of countries overseas. All products are made from New Zealand raw materials that are certified organic and are from sustainable production. The Company has established and built the flax seed oil market over the past 20 years and remains the market leader in New Zealand. Functional Wholesale Products is in partnership with The Herb Farm developing and producing a range of healing cosmetics that are building momentum. What area(s) of the business are currently being developed? Our partnership with Japan – we are exploring new avenues and revenue streams in this lucrative market for Flax Seed Oil. New routes to market in New Zealand with opportunities to expand the concept overseas. Does the company place much emphasis on R & D? Yes we do and have worked extensively in the past with Massey University and Crop and Food, Canterbury. More recently with Lincoln University through Charles Brennon. We have found the use of students an excellent R&D find! Where do you export to and where are future opportunities? Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Czech Republic. Future opportunities in the UK and Europe, […]

Old dirt, new boots: the economics of land, water and people

The evolution of New Zealand’s farming systems towards greater sustainability, and one man’s journey to redefine what it means to be an academic, are the topics for an inaugural professorial lecture being held at the University of Waikato this month. At just 40 years old, Professor Graeme Doole is one of New Zealand’s leading environmental economists. He grew up on a sheep and beef farm in the Taihape region of the central North Island, and has spent the past decade researching the environmental problems associated with agricultural activity on both sides of the Tasman. Professor Doole acts as an economic adviser to the Ministry for the Environment, in a position jointly funded by the Ministry and the University’s Waikato Management School. One key aspect of his role is to help central and regional government develop insights into the economic impact of new environmental policies that will significantly improve the water quality of New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and streams. “Society wants better water quality, but at the same time our national economy is heavily reliant on agriculture. Now we’re faced with trying to reverse-engineer our traditional farming systems, and that’s really difficult,” he says. In recent years, Professor Doole says his academic practice has shifted towards “a more pragmatic economics where I can engage with people and help to solve real-world problems. You’re always hoping that your work will transform the world for the better, even in some small way, rather than just living in a book.” The loss of contaminants from farms into waterways remains a huge challenge for New Zealand to overcome. However, Professor Doole believes researchers often spend too long trying to build complex models, rather than looking for simpler solutions that would lead to quick environmental wins. “We need to ask ourselves, right now, what is the […]

GIA biosecurity partnership welcomes the citrus industry

The GIA partnership has welcomed NZ Citrus Growers Inc. (NZCGI) as its newest member. By signing the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) Deed for Biosecurity Readiness and Response, NZCGI becomes the ninth member of the growing GIA partnership. The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Primary Industries – Hon Nathan Guy, NZCGI Chair – Richard Curtis, NZCGI Executive Manager – Nikki Johnson, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director – General – Martyn Dunne, and the GIA Secretariat. “We are pleased to join the GIA partnership which will ultimately help to deliver the best biosecurity outcomes for the New Zealand citrus industry,” says Mr Curtis. “The citrus industry faces a number of serious biosecurity threats that could decimate our industry – from the early discussions around GIA, NZCGI determined that GIA provided an opportunity to work more closely with government to understand the risks, undertake activities to prevent entry, and respond quickly and appropriately if required. Signing the GIA Deed will give the citrus industry a much stronger voice and working in partnership with MPI provides the best opportunity to manage our biosecurity risks, thereby maximising our industry potential”. There are over 350 citrus growers in New Zealand. Approximately $60 million worth of citrus fruit is produced per annum (36,000 tonnes), and around $6 million is exported to overseas markets. In 2014, New Zealand exported around 812 tonnes of navel oranges, 925 tonnes of Satsuma mandarins, and 1,678 tonnes of lemons to markets around the world. GIA Secretariat Manager, Steve Rich, welcomed NZCGI to the partnership saying GIA now has a diverse range of industry groups that is already beginning to deliver improved biosecurity readiness and response activities. “The creation of the GIA partnership to deliver better biosecurity outcomes was a bold and innovative step for primary industries and the New […]

National animal feed supplier opens NZ headquarters

National animal feed supplier, BEC Feed Solutions, has strengthened its commitment to the New Zealand agricultural market with the official opening of its headquarters in Auckland. The move was prompted by substantial business growth following a successful first two years in business. Owned by BEC – Australia’s largest independent animal pre-mix manufacturer – BEC Feed Solutions NZ specialises in high quality, innovative animal nutrition products, including premixes, feed additives, supplements and feed commodities. From its new Pukekohe-based office, the company will continue to service the country’s dairy industry, plus New Zealand’s calf rearing, horse breeding, pig, poultry, dry-stock and companion animal sectors. BEC Feed Solutions NZ is managed by a dedicated New Zealand-based technical team, with a collective 20 plus years’ experience in animal nutrition and health, ingredient procurement and related regulatory controls. BEC NZ Country Manager, Trina Parker, – a Pukekohe local – says the town was selected as home for the company’s NZ headquarters due to its strong agricultural roots and prime position as a rural supply town. “We’ve experienced a tremendous welcome from farmers, vets and retailers since we began operating in NZ two years ago,” explains Ms Parker. “With demand for premium nutrition products on the up, we decided it was time to establish a visible headquarters. Many of our large customers are based in the Auckland region, so Pukekohe was the obvious choice, allowing us easy access to key agricultural areas like Waikato, plus the ability to better service the immediate area while continuing to supply national customers,” Ms Parker adds. Jen McCarty, BEC NZ Technical Officer, says the team is looking forward to making visitors welcome at the new office and to regularly hosting international guests including animal nutrition experts from Sweden, Singapore and France. BEC’s new Auckland headquarters is located upstairs at 158b […]

Not a good example

Rural Contractors NZ (RCNZ) is concerned about Fonterra’s moves to extend the time it takes to pay contractors as part of an efficiency drive. The organisation, which represents NZ’s agricultural contractors, concerns come in the wake of reports that Fonterra has extended by two months the time it takes to pay suppliers; while also asking them to cut their charges. The dairy co-op has defended the move as about boosting efficiency. RCNZ president Steve Levet says this is not the type of action an industry-leader like Fonterra should be undertaking. “It sends a terrible message to farmers. That it is ok to delay paying suppliers and that is not on,” Mr Levet says. “We all understand the dairy sector is undergoing a very, tough period. But this should not be used as an excuse to not pay contractors in a fair and timely manner.” Mr Levet believes dairy farmers – many who will be making a loss this year – would not approve of such action and he does not want to see them to take a similar stance with their own suppliers. “Dairy farmers – on the whole – are good and fair people, but when Fonterra takes a stance like this – they make think it is ok for them to do the same. “I can tell you rural contractors are hurting just as much as dairy farmers. The last thing we need is for people to delaying paying us or trying to dictate pricing. We all have to live.” Mr Levet has called on dairy farmers to pressure Fonterra to ensure it treat its contractors fairly.

Primary ITO helps keep traditional Kiwi farming know-how on the farm

New Zealand farmers are an ageing demographic and the traditional succession model – of the children inheriting the farm – is breaking down, raising questions around how the generational and experience based knowledge of Kiwi farmers will be passed down. A study by agribusiness scientists, John Fairweather and Stephanie Mulet-Marques, using Statistics New Zealand data shows that farmers (owner operators) are getting older, and fewer farm children are interested in continuing on the family farm. There also appears to be an increase in the corporatisation of local farms, although no studies have been done, which also potentially puts traditional farming knowledge that is learned through the experience of generations, at risk. However, initiatives like the 450 strong Primary ITO volunteer mentor network – as well as training advisers who travel from farm to farm, and retired farmers who remain involved with the likes of Federated Farmers – are helping to make sure that valuable Kiwi farming know-how is preserved, even though farm children are going on to other professions. Primary ITO regional manager in the Manawatu, Cathy Puanaki, says that steps are already in place to ensure ‘succession knowledge and experience’ is handed down, even to the level of a farmer’s learned experience of factors like the micro-climate and soils relevant to his particular farm. “We have training advisers who are active farmers at the moment, whose children aren’t interested in going into farming, so we know it’s happening. I think technology is changing the way things are done, and children in particular are seeing different opportunities that they want to explore. The younger generation are choosing not to carry on the traditional family farm. They are keen to go and attain new qualifications, techniques and technologies and bring them back to the family farm.” Cathy believes though that the […]

Funding for irrigation unlocks potential

Irrigation New Zealand applauds the latest announcement by Government sighting three more grants by the Irrigation Acceleration Fund – $804,000 for the Wairarapa Water Use Project, $575,000 for Ruataniwha (Hawke’s Bay) and $250,000 for Gisborne’s Managed Aquifer Recharge Trial. “It’s great to see the Irrigation Acceleration Fund delivering on what it was set up to do – supporting the potential for irrigated agriculture to contribute to New Zealand’s sustainable economic growth,” says Irrigation New Zealand chairwoman Nicky Hyslop. “Water is the limiting factor. Even the best dry-land farming systems and farmers are still limited by soil moisture – rain dances just don’t cut the mustard when drought hits year after year. Irrigation brings confidence and security to the primary sector and this flows on to New Zealand Inc’s overall wellbeing. “It’s great to have a Government that thinks big and understands is its not easy for small, rural communities to raise the capital needed for irrigation infrastructure investigations and development. We know irrigation benefits the entire community and the Irrigation Acceleration Fund’s investments will ensure developments are achievable and sustainable for the communities that drive them,” says Mrs Hyslop. “At a time when the dairy industry is hurting it’s important we take a long-term view to ensure the best use of our water resources, while also maximising advantages for regional communities. “What is often overlooked is that irrigation is not solely about supporting dairy farming. A myriad of other land uses including horticulture, viticulture, small seeds and vegetables and sheep and beef can also rely on irrigation for consistent production. “Developments also augment rivers and top up aquifers, they tackle the environmental legacies of farming, industry and population growth by boosting water supply and ensuring consistent river flows. In many areas water storage also provides recreational opportunities like new kayaking, boating and fishing destinations. Finally, […]

Improved agricultural water management could halve the global food gap by 2050

…and buffer some of the harmful climate change effects on crop yields. For the first time, scientists investigated systematically the worldwide potential to produce more food with the same amount of water by optimising rain use and irrigation. They found the potential has previously been underestimated. Investing in crop water management could substantially reduce hunger while at the same time making up for population growth. However, putting the findings into practice would require specific local solutions, which remains a challenge. “Smart water use can boost agricultural production – we’ve in fact been surprised to see such sizeable effects at the global level,” says lead-author Jonas Jägermeyr from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “In a water management scenario the scientists call ambitious, global kilocalorie production could rise by 40 percent, while according to UN estimates roughly 80 percent would be needed to eradicate hunger by the middle of this century. But even in less ambitious scenarios, results show that integrated crop water management could make a crucial contribution to filling the plates of the poor, says Jägermeyr. “It turns out that crop water management is a largely underrated approach to reduce undernourishment and increase climate resilience of smallholders.” Large yield increase potential in China, Mexico, Australia The scientists have run comprehensive biophysical computer simulations, constraining these in such a way that croplands do not expand into forests and no additional water resources are needed. As it is a global study, it provides detailed vegetation dynamics and water use effects in river basins – certainly too coarse to simulate farm-level conditions but suited to identify regional hotspots. For example, the yield increase potential of crop water management is found to be particularly large in water-scarce regions such as in China, Australia, the western US, Mexico, and South Africa. “Assessing the […]

Destruction of our soil more serious than climate change

An international soil scientist says restocking the world’s arable soil with carbon is more important than climate change. While world leaders, besotted by climate change, meet in Paris, Dr John Baker says improving soil health and feeding the world is more important. “Climate change, while serious, is not going to starve you but the rape of our soil over the last 1,000 years through traditional tillage methods, is already leading to reduced crop yields and will eventually be insufficient to feed everyone.” Sadly too many people around the world treat soil like dirt when it should be revered because “our lives depend on it” Dr Baker says. He believes that because soil isn’t sexy, not on our radar and is metaphorically beneath us, it’s taken for granted by many farmers and ignored by politicians and city dwellers. Dr Baker says alarming figures provided by the United National Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the UK Farmers Weekly suggest the quality of soil is rapidly diminishing. FAO predicts the world, on average, has 60 more years of growing crops left while the Farmers Weekly claims that only 100 harvests remain in the UK. This week the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE), based in London, lamented that nearly 40 percent of soil in south west England is highly degraded and waterlogged due, in part, to poor land management and inert water runoff. Eighty percent of the world’s food comes from crops and Dr Baker says the symbiotic relationships between soil, soil biology and the wellbeing of terrestrial animals including humans is a complex but precious equilibrium that people ignore or destroy at their peril. Ironically climate change and soil health are closely related and can benefit each other Dr Baker, who has a MAgrSc in soil science and Ph.D in agricultural engineering […]

Oasis amidst the dairy paddocks

Could dairy farms become sanctuaries for native flora and fauna? A new study is showing dairy and conservation sites can co-exist, and its findings are contributing to an ongoing project restoring natural biodiversity into a dairy farming environment. ‘Persistence of biodiversity in a dryland remnant within an intensified dairy farm landscape’, looks at Bankside Scientific Reserve, a small (2.6 ha) remnant in Canterbury surrounded by dairy paddocks, which still has valuable communities of native species, despite being impacted by nitrate and phosphate encroachment, and habitat fragmentation. It concludes “it does not appear to be an intractable management issue for the interface between agricultural systems and conservation sites within a dairy landscape mosaic”. One of the study’s authors, Professor of Ecology, Nick Dickinson, and other Lincoln scientists have been tasked by Ngāi Tahu Farming and Manawhenua from Tuahuriri Marae, to turn the little triangles of land which irrigators in paddocks cannot reach into an oasis for native plants and animals on Ngāi Tahu’s Eyrewell dairy farm. Professor Dickinson says the study shows there are “means and ways” to restore natural biodiversity into a dairy farming environment, and the Ngai Tāhu Farming project was an example, covering 150 hectares on 17 reserves, with a similar additional amount of native species being planted on paddock borders and under irrigators. These create conditions for more than 65 species of plants to regenerate, and also provide corridors for insects and birds between the reserves. The research hinges on finding the benefits to the farmer of doing this, to encourage more native planting, he says. www.lincoln.ac.nz

«‹ 52 53 54 55 ›»

News Ticker

Developments