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High-value wool innovation takes out top export awards

A Canterbury business creating a high-value, top-dollar future for merino wool has won the Supreme Award at the New Zealand International Business Awards 2019. Based in Christchurch, The New Zealand Merino Company Limited is an integrated sales, marketing and innovation company for merino wool, and the world’s leading supplier of ethical wool through its accreditation brand, ZQ Merino. The company aims to help transform merino wool from a commodity into a high-value fibre, working with brands to create unique design-led and R&D-based products that incorporate merino wool, and in turn helping growers to get better returns. Its partnerships include local and global brands ranging from Icebreaker, Allbirds, Mons Royale, Rodd & Gunn and Untouched World to Hugo Boss, Fjallraven and Helly Hansen. As well as apparel, they have also teamed up for novel products such as US boardmaker Firewire’s Woolight composite surfboard. Judges were impressed with how the New Zealand Merino Company Limited had worked to help shift the entire local merino industry from volume to value, investing in a design-led approach over multiple years and also helping many of their partner brands and suppliers to adopt design thinking approaches. The New Zealand Merino Company Limited won the Excellence in Design award earlier in the night, before being chosen from all category winners to receive the Supreme Award. They were also highly commended in the Excellence in Innovation and ANZ Best Large Business categories. This marks the awards’ second year running with a Canterbury business taking top honours, following a win for geological software business Seequent in 2018. The New Zealand Merino Company Limited were included in the awards process after winning a Westpac Champion Canterbury Award – one of six regional export award programmes that feed through to the New Zealand International Business Awards via a partnership with ExportNZ. […]

Mobile tipper-conveyor system performs multiple tasks

A new Mobile Drum Tipper-Conveyor System fallows dust-free dumping of bulk solid materials from drums, and/or conveying it to process equipment and storage vessels throughout the plant. The system’s TIP-TITE Drum Tipper accommodates drums from 114 to 208 liters, weighing up to 340 kg and measuring 90 to 120 cm in height. Mounted on a mobile frame with quick-action floor jacks, it raises the drum hydraulically to form a dust-tight seal between the rim of a drum and the underside of the discharge cone. A separate hydraulic cylinder tips the platform-hood assembly and drum, stopping at dump angles of 45, 60 or 90 degrees with a motion-dampening feature. The vertically-oriented cone mates with a gasketed inlet port fitted to the hopper of the system’s flexible screw conveyor, and to any low profile equipment throughout the plant. A pneumatically-actuated slide gate valve prevents material flow until the discharge cone has been properly seated in the gasketed receiving ring. The mobile Flexicon screw conveyor, which can operate independently or mated to the drum tipper, can feed material to elevated process equipment and storage vessels. The only moving part contacting material is a rugged inner screw which can move both free- and non-free-flowing materials with no separation of blended products. The screw is driven beyond the point of discharge, preventing material contact with seals or bearings. Removal of the hopper lid allows manual dumping and feeding from upstream equipment. Flexibility of the tipper and conveyor to handle a diversity of materials independently or in tandem throughout the plant enables the system to satisfy a range of current and future requirements, according to the manufacturer. Ready to plug in and run, it is constructed of carbon steel with a durable industrial finish, and is available with stainless steel material contact surfaces or in all-stainless […]

Changing food types

Crispy roasted crickets were recently served in a sushi restaurant in London, re-igniting the discussion about integrating insects into consumer diets. However, less thought has been given to what industry will have to do to handle these new food types. Here Darcy Simonis, industry network leader for ABB’s food and beverage segment, explains how manufacturers can incorporate new ingredients to production. Consumers love new ingredients to incorporate into their diets, with recent years new food trends including quinoa, avocado and kale. These new food products, with mass consumer appeal, are even more important when they use ingredients that are nutritious and environmentally sustainable. However, the sudden increase from low to large volume production can be an issue when a food product emerges to mass popularity. Scaling up production and processing food that suddenly and rapidly grows in popularity can be a daunting task. Improperly controlled mass production can cause inefficiencies to spiral out of control, or for unknown issues to come to the forefront. For example, the massive global increase in demand for avocados forced the Kenyan government to ban the export of the fruit as there was not enough to supply local needs. The increase in demand for new ingredients or products also raises the need to implement proper applications for handling new ingredients. In the case of the crickets, most food manufacturing processes are built to deter insects and prevent them from contaminating the food. As such, if insect-based foods were to grow in popularity, new processes would have to be developed to ensure proper cleanliness and hygiene levels. When a product is in high demand and supplies run low there is also the potential for food fraud to come into play. This is dangerous, with potentially fatal consequences for the end consumer, because the product may have […]

Applications open for 2020 Meat Industry Scholarships

Students considering a future career in New Zealand’s largest manufacturing sector are encouraged to apply for the Meat Industry Scholarships 2020 programme. Applications are now open for the awards, run by the Meat Industry Association (MIA). Six undergraduate scholarships providing $5,000 a year for each year of study and four post-graduate awards of $10,000 a year for each year of study are awarded to the successful applicants. MIA Chief Executive Tim Ritchie said the awards are aimed at scholars who are looking to contribute their skills to the sector in the future. “We welcome applications from across a wide range of fields of study, which applicants can show are relevant to meat processing, marketing or exporting. That includes food sciences and engineering, environmental science, international marketing, process design and industrial innovation. “The main purpose of the scholarship is to provide a pathway for undergraduate or graduate students into the New Zealand meat processing industry. Our scholars may also have the opportunity of part time or vacation work in the meat industry.” The meat processing sector directly employs some 25,000 people, mainly in regional New Zealand. It is also one of the biggest trainers of New Zealand workers, with approximately 4,500 people undergoing NZQA accredited courses annually. “Attracting skilled people and supporting their development is essential to the success of the industry,” said Mr Ritchie. “In turn, that is critical to the prosperity and wealth of the country. The sector is New Zealand’s second largest goods exporter and our largest manufacturing industry.” The meat industry is also investing in training systems to upskill workers, apprenticeship schemes and schools programmes. “The industry provides significant opportunities for young people in a wide range of areas. It is a productive, innovative and progressive environment, offering competitive salaries and strong career pathways.” MIA scholar Sam […]

Developing zero-carbon aquaculture through data science

A collaboration led by Victoria University of Wellington has received $13 million in funding to help New Zealand transition to a zero-carbon society by applying data science to the aquaculture industry. “New Zealand’s greatest opportunity to transition to a zero-carbon economy while improving livelihoods and wellbeing is to develop our aquaculture industry using data science,” says Professor Mengjie Zhang from the University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science, who will lead the collaboration. The University is working with Plant & Food Research, Cawthron Institute and University of Otago researchers on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment-funded project. Professor Zhang says, “Through this project we aim to develop innovative data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning techniques that will enable the aquaculture industry to keep growing efficiently and at large scale, producing high-quality, low-carbon protein for New Zealand and the world without compromising the environment.” The collaboration will develop data science tools to optimise the farming of Greenshell™ mussels and finfish in open ocean farms. “Collecting and incorporating various types of data through this project will unlock significant advantages for the aquaculture industry,” says Professor Zhang. “Farm managers can use these data to drive decision-making when responding to climate challenges, managing disease, improving production yields, and farming sustainably at scale.” The research team is aiming to develop innovative evolutionary and statistical learning techniques for use in the aquaculture industry, Professor Zhang says. “These learning techniques will help create better AI, which can be used to expand the capacity of the mussel and finfish farms,” he says. “This is an area in which Victoria University of Wellington scientists are leaders and can bring significant expertise to the table. “It is exciting to see data science becoming more integrated into New Zealand’s growing aquaculture sector to allow for more precise decision […]

CropLife Asia joins call for healthy & sustainable diets

This World Food Day, CropLife Asia proudly joins the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in the call to make healthy and sustainable diets accessible and affordable to everyone – and heralds the innovations of plant science technologies as a key component in realising this pursuit. The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report by the FAO reveals that while more than 820 million people around the world suffer from hunger, over 670 million adults and 120 million boys and girls between the ages of 5-19 are obese. Children under five years old are also part of this troubling trend with over 40 million of them being overweight globally. The paradox of how food insecurity is associated with both undernourishment as well as overweight and obesity is prevalent in Asia, where the majority of the undernourished population (more than 500 million) live. In 2018, Africa and Asia bore the greatest share of all forms of malnutrition by accounting for more than nine out of ten of all stunted and wasted children; while nearly three-quarters of all overweight children worldwide also reside in Asia. “The numbers revealed by the FAO SOFI Report are alarming and suggest a crisis is at hand,” said Dr. Siang Hee Tan, Executive Director of CropLife Asia. “Innovations such as crop protection products and plant biotechnology have a role to play in mitigating the debilitating effects of this crisis. These plant science tools are food and nutrition security game-changers that can help Asia’s smallholder farmers not only produce more high-quality food but also mitigate the impacts of climate change.” Biotech crops are developed with improved traits such as increased yield, better resistance to pests and/or improved nutrition, among others. These traits are crucial tools that enable farmers to meet […]

Methane reducing cattle feed one step closer

The Government today announced its support for a project that could substantially reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from cattle. The announcement was made as part of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor’s visit to Nelson’s Cawthron Aquaculture Park. The Cawthron Institute will receive $100,000 from the Government’s Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund to turn a native red seaweed (Asparagopsis armata) in to a greenhouse gas-busting cattle feed supplement for domestic and global markets. “If successful, this project could be a game-changer for farmers here and around the world,” Damien O’Connor said. “In previous trials Asparagopsis has proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in livestock by up to 80 per cent. Other products typically provide reductions of between 10 and 20 per cent. “Australian research estimates that if just 10 per cent of global ruminant producers adopted Asparagopsis as an additive to feed their livestock, it would have the same impact for our climate as removing 50 million cars from the world’s roads. “Farmers know better than most about the effects of climate change and many are innovating so that they can drive down on-farm emissions. They need technology like this to help them get there though. “Sustainable agribusiness and transitioning to a low emissions economy is a major focus for the Coalition Government. It’s why we established the $40 million a year SFFF fund last year – to invest in projects that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits for all Kiwis. “Aquaculture is a growth industry for this country and has the potential to play a more significant role in our economy. It’s currently worth $600 million a year and employs over 3000 people. “The Cawthron project could lay the foundations for a new high-value industry, along with the jobs that go with it. There is […]

Fonterra increases 2019/2020 forecast farmgate milk price

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited today increased its 2019/2020 forecast Farmgate Milk Price range from $6.25 – $7.25 per kgMS to $6.55 – $7.55 per kgMS. The Advance Rate Fonterra pays its farmer owners will be set off the mid-point, $7.05 per kgMS, of the revised range. Fonterra Chairman John Monaghan says the Co-op had been achieving good prices for its milk so far this season. “Demand for whole milk powder (WMP) has been firm, and for the full season we’re expecting it to be above last year. Global WMP production is down year to date and expected to continue to decrease for the remainder of 2019. “We are also continuing to sell our skim milk powder at higher prices than EU and US dairy companies in Global Dairy Trade (GDT) Events.” Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says there are positive signals for milk price. “It is still very early in the season and a lot can change. There are a number of factors we are keeping a close eye on, which is why we’ve retained a wide forecast milk price range. “These factors include global trade tensions and political instability in some of our key sales regions. And, as is always the case, we cannot predict the weather and clearly weather conditions play a big role in global supply.” Mr Hurrell says the strong demand for the Co-op’s milk and the prices that are being achieved, relative to other milk producing regions, demonstrated the rationale of Fonterra’s new strategy to prioritise New Zealand milk. “One of our four priorities is to support regional New Zealand. If you take the $7.05 mid-point of today’s revision to our forecast Farmgate Milk Price, it’s another $450 million into regional New Zealand.” “Our earnings outlook for FY20 is based on a forecast Farmgate Milk Price, […]

DairyNZ welcomes immigration changes

DairyNZ Chief Executive Dr Tim Mackle has welcomed the announcement that the Government will be streamlining the employer assisted work visa process to help businesses and farms fill skills shortages. “A clear and consistent message we are getting from our farmers is that they are struggling to get good staff on farm. Filling skill shortages is of critical importance to our agricultural sector” Dr Mackle said. “DairyNZ have engaged constructively with the Government in the consultation around these changes and are pleased with the outcome. We support most of the changes, which will make it easier for our farmers, especially those in the regions, to access much needed staff. “We will now work with dairy farmers to ensure they understand what these changes will mean for them from 2021 when the policy comes into place, and also what it might mean in the period before then. “Our existing migrant employees are both highly valued and much needed on farm, so we will be making enquiries with the government to get clarity about what this might mean for them in the interim. “DairyNZ will continue to focus on attracting and retaining New Zealanders into the agricultural sector. We look forward to continuing to work with Immigration NZ to help shape the policy detail to ensure it works for farmers” Dr Mackle concluded.

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Meat Industry Association welcomes Government sector agreement announcement

The Meat Industry Association today welcomed the announcement that the meat processing sector has been invited to negotiate with the Government for one of the first sector agreements for immigration. “Labour shortages have been an ongoing issue for the meat processing sector, which affect our ability to run our plants to the desired capacity and fully process all products,” says MIA chief executive Tim Ritchie. “That deprives processors and farmers of revenue and rural communities of income.” The sector is committed to training and employing New Zealanders first and foremost and works closely with the Ministry of Social Development and regional agencies to recruit people from local communities to work in plants. “However, we still struggle to fill roles from New Zealand’s rural communities and the meat processing sector is approximately 2,000 employees short at present, that’s about eight per cent of our workforce. To fill this immediate gap, we must recruit people from overseas.” A sector agreement is likely to include how the meat industry will attract New Zealanders, improve productivity, offer training and continue to uphold employment standards, said Mr Ritchie. “The meat processing sector, with 25,000 people, is New Zealand’s largest food manufacturer, offering modern technology, training, career progression and competitive wages.” The sector is looking forward to sector agreement negotiations with the Government to deliver benefits to the sector, the regions and ultimately, to all New Zealanders, said Mr Ritchie. “Meat processors are mainly based in the regions, so residential accommodation is available for people coming from overseas. Enabling meat processors to operate at full capacity for the season will provide additional money to the communities in which they operate.” Employing people from overseas is typically more expensive than employing New Zealanders with additional costs including visa support, travel and pastoral care, he said. “The MIA […]

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