SFF Futures projects: regenerative farming practices

Evaluating regenerative farming principles and developing farmer resilience on a dryland demonstration farm

Project start: 22 June 2021
Project length: 4.5 years
MPI funding: $1,530,000
Industry funding: $550,000
Industry partner: On-Farm Research, AgFirst, Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Barenburg New Zealand, Poukawa Research Foundation
Region: Hawke's Bay

This project will scientifically test and incorporate new forage management practices and principles of regenerative farming into a dryland sheep and cattle farming system. Practices like utilising compost, diverse seed mixtures, longer feed residuals, and deferred grazing will be compared against conventional farming practices within a dryland system. The project will also focus on improving farmer resilience and decision making.

RegenHort - Boosting NZ horticulture through regenerative practices (Stage 1 - Opportunity Discovery)

Project start: 17 August 2021
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $100,000
Industry funding: $100,000
Industry partner: Zespri International, Turners & Growers Global, Plant & Food Research
Region: Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay

This project is the first stage of a proposed six-year partnership, which aims to define, validate and implement regenerative horticultural practices that are valued by consumers in New Zealand and overseas. The project aims to improve environmental and social performance of New Zealand kiwifruit, apples, and berries growers while maintaining high production.