Seed certification information system
Project start: 22 November 2019
Project Completed: 25 May 2022
MPI funding: $1,207,453
Industry funding: $1,950,630
Industry partner: Seed Quality Management Authority
Region: Nationwide
This project developed a seed certification system to protect and grow New Zealand’s $400 million seed industry. Its deployment will be a significant milestone for the industry, and will completely change the way seed certification is administered in New Zealand. The system will enable New Zealand to be a leader in online data sharing between designated authorities for certified seed around the globe. A final stage is currently being scoped before the system goes into production to ensure it meets security and privacy control standards.
Durum Wheat Flour: A Flavour of the Wairarapa
Project start: 1 April 2021
Project Completed: 18 March 2022
MPI funding: $81,000
Industry funding: $54,000
Industry partner: Foundation of Arable Research
Region: Wairarapa
This project will evaluate the potential to increase grower returns and resilience through durum wheat production. This includes identifying opportunities for New Zealand grown durum wheat in the domestic pasta market, evaluation of commercialisation options to maximise grower returns, and development of new durum wheat cultivars.
Media release: Putting a local twist on durum wheat
Summary report: Durum wheat flour – a flavour of the Wairarapa [PDF, 484 KB]
Hemp database digital tool
Project start: 1 March 2021
Project completed: 8 March 2022
MPI funding: $81,000
Industry funding: $54,000
Industry partners: New Zealand Hemp Industries Association, Webtools Agritech
Region: Nationwide
This project developed a minimum viable product tool to improve digitisation among primary producers in the New Zealand hemp industry. The web-based tool allows individual growers to record high-quality data for the benefit of an industry which is still in its early growth stage. Hemp growers must be licensed and act in accordance with regulations. As the tool is further developed, it will facilitate license applications and offer guidance on compliance.
Improving and optimising the grain industry from farm to supply
Project start: 24 August 2020
Project completed: 28 February 2021
MPI funding: $79,400
Industry funding: $131,300
Industry partner: GrainTec Limited
Region: Nationwide
GrainTec researched developing a low-cost sensor to measure grain levels in silos. The sensor transmits data direct to farmers, via an app across a LoRaWAN network. Trials on three sites and market research indicate that this offering has value for farmers. GrainTec is now working with partners identified during market research to refine and test the sensor ready for market.
Optimal timing of fertiliser application, seeding and irrigation
Project start: 29 May 2020
Project completed: 11 December 2020
MPI funding: $24,000
Industry funding: $63,568
Industry partner: RH Innovation Ltd
Region: Nationwide
This project developed a cost-effective soil moisture sensor that is suitable for the horticulture industry. The moisture sensor is capacitive based. This means that it is not influenced by soil salinity and produces clean data. The moisture sensor contains a WiFi modem and sends data to RH Innovation Ltd’s cloud-based AI platform via the internet to remove the guesswork from farmers’ decisions about when to irrigate. One of the main features of the sensor is its ability to capture moisture data at very high frequency. This allows important soil moisture characteristics to be captured that are normally missed by other moisture sensors.
Parengarenga BioChar project
Project start: 18 September 2019
Project completed: 2 November 2020
MPI funding: $60,688
Industry funding: $63,228
Industry partner: Parengarenga Inc
Region: Northland
BioChar is used overseas as an environmentally friendly soil conditioner. It is a form of organic matter charred under controlled high temperature conditions. The resulting product can be blended with natural organic matter and added to pasture. Parengarenga Incorporation trialled the use of BioChar to identify a product best suited to Far North soil.
