Co-existence with genetic modification 'possible'
Co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants in New Zealand industries will be challenging, but is achievable, a review has found.
The Government's plan to merge the seven crown institutes presents exciting possibilities for plant technology company Grasslanz Technology, says chief executive Megan Skiffington.
Grasslanz is a subsidiary of AgResearch.
The Government announced earlier this year that the seven Crown Research Institutes will soon be merged into new Public Research Organisations, including one that includes AgResearch and is focused on the bioeconomy.
Skiffington says this will allow Grasslanz to grow its reach and seize other opportunities to bolster the primary sector. This includes opportunities using technologies such as genetic modification and gene editing and beyond.
"We know that farmers and growers do better when backed by great science. With our partners, Grasslanz has delivered that impact on the ground.
"We think we will be able to bring even more value to the new Public Research Organisation with our proven business model, helping a larger pool of scientists to provide solutions to those farmers and growers," she says.
Her comments came as Grasslanz won the supreme honour at the 2025 Science New Zealand Awards this month.
The award is in recognition of its record of introducing valuable new types of pasture and related technologies that have helped livestock industries to thrive. Among these is the commercialisation of the AR27 Epichloë endophyte developed by AgResearch scientists, which provides resistance to pests and has been independently estimated as contributed $3.6 billion to the New Zealand economy over the life of its 20-year patent.
"This award is a real credit to the many people who have been a part of the enduring success of Grasslanz Technology," says Skiffington.
"That means everyone from the science teams who made the discoveries and did the research, through to those who partnered with us because they believed in turning this research into products that farmers and growers can use to enhance the productivity and sustainability of agriculture in this country."
The chairs of the Judging Panels for the Science New Zealand Awards, who selected the Supreme Award winner, said Grasslanz Technology stood out "because of its contribution to the growth of the New Zealand economy through excellent science directed to solve issues faced by the primary sector in an economically and environmentally sustainable fashion".
The Science New Zealand Awards celebrate the best of the science and its impacts across New Zealand's Crown Research Institutes and Callaghan Innovation.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
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New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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