Agri hub now open for business
Never mind the bricks and mortar, the Lincoln Hub is now open for business, says its recently appointed chief executive Toni Laming.
The five partners of the Lincoln Hub have appointed the architect for the first phase of the project.
The Lincoln Hub involves research, education and industry that will transform the productivity and performance of New Zealand and the world's primary sector. The five founding partners are AgResearch, DairyNZ, Landcare Research, Lincoln University and Plant & Food Research.
Hub chairman Graham Stuart says a consortium of Warren and Mahoney, Woods Bagot, Boffa Miskell and Powell Fenwick (WAM consortium) has been selected to produce a master plan for the hub.
"This involves identifying and collating the facilities requirements of each of the five partners as well as potential industry involvement," he says.
"The WAM consortium brings together a broad-based, multi-consultancy team with experience in large, complex master planning projects. These include the award-winning South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) which houses 700 researchers; as well as many other notable buildings in New Zealand and Australia."
WAM consortium project leader Graeme Finlay says they are excited to be engaged to help develop the concept for the Lincoln Hub. "The hub is a truly visionary project which will play a critical part in the growth of not only the regional but also the national economy."
Stuart says the master plan will be completed for presentation to the Science and Innovation Minister in November. Concept design will start once the master plan is approved.
Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.
Making things simpler, not harder, for deer farmers in farm planning and coping with regulations is Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) industry capability manager John Ladley’s current focus.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is launching an online business directory called The Country Women’s Collective to promote and support entrepreneurial rural women.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill has joined the Campaign for Wool NZ as an ambassador, lending his name and profile to educate and advocate for New Zealand strong wool.
Living labs that bring together expertise at locations around New Zealand are among potential solutions identified by researchers to help the country move towards a more climate resilient future.