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.
In a first-of-its-kind for New Zealand, Lincoln University is hosting an international conference on food science and technology.
The overarching theme of the conference is the future of food innovation, nutrition, and technology, which will bring together more than 250 scientists, government officials, and industry representatives from more than 50 countries around the globe.
The conference also celebrates the 50-year anniversary of the International Journal of Food Science and Technology (IJFST) – one of the oldest and most established journals in food science and technology in the world.
The conference theme is a highly relevant one, with food science and technology expected to play an increasingly important role in addressing current and future challenges in food production.
A large and rapidly growing global population, deteriorating agricultural soils, increasing demand for water resources, and the need to rapidly modify production methods based on climate change are all providing a serious challenge to the field of food science.
According to Lincoln University professor in food science, editor-in-chief of IJFST, and conference chairman, Charles Brennan, the event is a unique opportunity to facilitate an information exchange that brings together industry, universities, and research centres.
"The mix of those attending should allow for some good dialogue between both industry and research, which is tremendously important to ensure that tangible and workable projects are undertaken, the right kind of issues are addressed, and new opportunities are identified," Brennan says.
"The conference will also provide a great opportunity to showcase the pivotal role New Zealand plays in the area of food science and product innovation."
"The fact that the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment has chosen to be a major sponsor of the event indicates the importance of innovation within the global food industry and the relevance of food processing to the New Zealand economy as a whole."
The conference will see more than 200 oral and poster presentations over the three days.
Further details on the conference are available at www.lincoln.ac.nz/IJFST50.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.