MOU a significant milestone
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lincoln University and Ballance Agri-Nutrients is being hailed as a significant milestone.
LINCOLN AGRITECH Ltd is celebrating 50 years of researching and encouraging agricultural engineering.
The company, approved by the government in 1963, was founded in 1964 as New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute (NZAEI) at Lincoln College (now Lincoln University). The first staff member joined in October 1964.
Financed chiefly by Ministry of Agriculture grants, it first worked on tractor safety frame testing, fencing, carcase disposal, farm water supply and farm aviation.
In 1979 NZAEI opened a second research division at Ruakura, Hamilton. Lincoln Ventures Ltd was created in 1994 as a merger of NZAEI, the Kellogg Farm Management Unit and the Centre for Resource Management.
In 2012 the company changed its name to Lincoln Agritech Ltd to better reflect its position as an independent agritech-focused science and engineering research company, owned by Lincoln University.
The company has spread its field of interest beyond farming, to the industrial and environmental sectors. Examples include:
A mechanical blackcurrant harvester developed and made commercially from 1973, and sold in NZ and elsewhere.
Water harvesting in dams and other types of storage in the 1970s for stock and irrigation, including the design of the Glenmark Irrigation Scheme in Waipara.
A direct drilling machine called the Rotodrill (1980) in collaboration with MAF, which enabled ploughing and seeding of land in a single step.
IRRICAD, a world-known software package used to design pressurised irrigation systems sold in 60 countries.
Aquaflex, a soil moisture sensor sold worldwide since 1991.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
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.
Dairy
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.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…