increase font size
With food being to New Zealand what 'Silicon Valley' is to the United States' technology sector, Federated Farmers is backing AgResearch's strategic move to create two major research campuses supplemented by two smaller ones.
Dr William Rolleston, Federated Farmers vice-president, says its masterplan is about supporting primary exports to reach $64 billion by 2025.
"We cannot deny there is a human element to this change and while 40 positions are slated to go, the actual number will be low given this is a four- year transition. That said, it will require a number of staff and their families to consider where their long-term futures lie.
"Federated Farmers is encouraged to see that no staff will be required to relocate until 2016.
"We must also stress that capability will be retained at both Ruakura and Invermay but the focus will change.
"The challenges in this strategy will depend on maintaining and enhancing AgResearch's good linkage with the University of Otago's exceptional genetics team and on Lincoln University continuing to build its capability; a process Lincoln began last year.
"The downsizing of Invermay must not see a reduction of AgResearch's capability in either sheep or deer.
"Yet if we are to light the after-burners on our primary exports, then we need to create a culture of cool, innovative science backed with functional well-resourced campuses.
"AgResearch, at Palmerston North, will be part of 'Food HQ' based on Massey University together with the Riddet Institute, Plant & Food Research, the Bio Commerce Centre and Fonterra.
"At Lincoln University, AgResearch, will join not only the University itself, but an 'Ag HQ' hub comprising DairyNZ, Plant & Food and Landcare Research too.
"This brings to New Zealand and the primary industries a campus culture usually associated with Silicon Valley. It is about paddock to the plate solutions in campuses that attract the world's best scientific talent, not to mention, research monies to.
"It is no secret that some of AgResearch's physical scientific infrastructure was getting creaky. Its $100 million reinvestment is not only timely, but a wise investment to build strategic capability of benefit to farmers and all New Zealanders," Dr Rolleston says.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
Improving health and safety is about incremental gain rather than a sudden decision, says Leeston farmer and Federated Farmers health and safety spokesman David Birkett.
Federated Farmers' new vice president Sandra Faulkner says the issue of adverse events emergency management and infrastructure needs to be taken out of the three-year political cycle.
A pause on Waikato Regional Council's (WRC) plan change that sets new freshwater rules for farming could be announced in the coming weeks.
A huge reduction in ACC claims from on-farm accidents over the last five years is due to thousands of small, practical decisions being made in sheds, yards, paddocks and around kitchen tables across the country, says Safer Farms ambassador Lindy Nelson.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.
A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any…
OPINION: It really is getting harder to lampoon government bureaucrats when they do such a good job of it themselves.…
