Wired for Science: Understanding the feeding habits of mealybug
Fussy children might be frustrating, but fussy mealybugs could help protect the New Zealand wine industry from grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3.
Founder and chairman of ANZCO Foods, Sir Graeme Harrison is personally funding a professorial chair in Global Value Chains and Trade at Lincoln University.
The newly created position will contribute to the research and teaching at the university, but Harrison hopes it will also help lead change in the way New Zealand businesses engage globally throughout the value chain.
According to Lincoln University vice-chancellor Dr Andrew West, position will need a unique set of skills.
"As well as carrying core academic responsibilities, we see the appointee becoming a leading spokesperson on global trade, particularly around the challenges facing New Zealand's agricultural exports," says West.
Harrison believes that New Zealand businesses must understand global supply chains and where they can add value. This new role will aim to educate future business leaders as well as provide leadership in today's industry.
"Ideally we're looking for someone who has developed a high profile and strong reputation outside the academic world, but who has the ability to pass that knowledge on to students, conduct and lead quality research, and collaborate with industry," he says.
The new role is particularly timely with work continuing on the development of the 'Lincoln Hub' – a partnership designed to combine expertise and infrastructure within the primary sector.
Bradley Wadsworth lives on the family farm – Omega Station – in the Wairarapa about 30 minutes’ drive east from Masterton.
With global milk prices falling, the question is when will key exporting countries reach a tipping point where production starts to dip.
Rural contractors want the Government to include a national standard for air plans as part of its Resource Management Act reforms.
The biggest reform of local government in more than 35 years is underway.
An industry-wide project led by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is underway to deal with the rising number of feral pests, in particular, browsing pests such as deer and pigs.
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.

OPINION: Winston Peters has described the decision to sell its brand to Lactalis and disperse the profit to its farmer…
OPINION: The Hound reckons a big problem with focusing too much on the wrong goal - reducing livestock emissions at…