What Would Synlait Be Worth to Fonterra or a2 Milk?
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Robin Pollard signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD) Executive Secretary Dr M Prama Yufdy on May 6.
IAARD is part of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and is implementing the Sustainable Management of Agricultural Research and Technology Dissemination (SMARTD) project funded by the World Bank.
Lincoln already has several IAARD staff studying at post graduate level after they completed the University's English language programme, and there is a need for more staff to be upskilled. IAARD have been sending staff to North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand for training.
The agreement establishes areas where Lincoln could further increase its involvement in the training as well as looking at other areas of collaboration.
These include; Government scholarship programmes aimed at addressing institutional research needs in Indonesia, establishing pathways for Indonesian students to complete Masters and PhD Programmes in relevant agricultural fields, as well as the development of collaborative research projects in priority areas.
Lincoln's director of international and student engagement, Dee Coleman, says Lincoln's strength in agriculture has been favourable for the Indonesian Government and "we welcome these relationships where we can engage in international knowledge sharing between nations".
"The perception in Indonesia of Lincoln as New Zealand's specialist land based university is cemented, and it lifts our academic profile with other Government departments," she says.
Indonesia is the world's 16th largest economy but projected to be the seventh largest by 2030, according to NZ's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It has a growing consumer class among the population of 251 million.
