End of war on farming, say farmers
Federated Farmers says changes announced to the Resource Management Act today mark the end of the war on farming.
Federated Farmers wants a plan to attract the world's top scientists to New Zealand to concentrate on those who will work on primary sector initiatives and the environment.
Federated Farmers President Dr William Rolleston says it makes sense for the government's $35 million 'Entrepreneurial Universities' programme to build knowledge in areas which are key to New Zealand's economic and environmental needs.
The four year programme, announced by Science Minister Steven Joyce on Wednesday, aims to encourage the world's leading researchers to bring their teams to work in New Zealand.
"This programme will help New Zealand keep up with the scientific developments already going on around the globe.
"Federated Farmers is keen to engage in the programme to help identify areas of opportunity for the primary industries and the environment," Rolleston says.
Agriculture is a high-tech industry that is intimately linked to the environment.
"The industry's scale brings great opportunities for entrepreneurs. It's critical our farmers have all the tools of modern biology available to them, plus capability in high-tech areas so that we can stay at the forefront as the digital and biology revolutions unfold."
Federated Farmers believes the programme should be about encouraging industry and universities to think about how New Zealand can develop entrepreneurial opportunities, especially in the areas where we already have strength, like biological technologies.
"Our best and biggest opportunities are where we already have strength and scale," Rolleston says.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
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