Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures projects

This project aimed to further increase the production of established olive groves. The researchers were able to increase yield per tree to an extra 5kg (20%) by ongoing best practices in disease and canopy management and nutrition. They also developed an alternate, more organic approach to production.

The project found it is possible to increase harvest by 5-10kg per tree by following-up using branch shakers after the machine harvester. The five trial groves continued to out-perform the average performance of regional groves that used conventional methods.

Focus Grove Project – Olives New Zealand

The project explored the most sustainable treatment method to treat wastewater being discharged from the Cedenco vegetable processing factory in Gisborne. Work undertaken included assessing the environmental effects on a wetland, examining opportunities for water re-use, and ensuring the methods adopted met compliance requirements and could be incorporated into the processing system.

This project successfully developed a prototype strong wool-based adhesive bandage that is 100% biodegradable. The bandage will protect wounds from friction, bacteria, additional damage and dirt, and will be free from petroleum-based products. NewCul received additioNewCulnal SFF Futures funding for Phase 2 of the project, which will work on refining the prototype.

This project aimed to establish the foundations of a New Zealand pine pollen industry, with R&D carried out on harvesting, processing and storage of pine pollen. It also investigated the biochemistry and nutrition of pine pollen, and the global pine pollen market. The project successfully demonstrated that pine pollen can be harvested effectively from certain types of existing pine forests. A large (almost NZD $4 billion) market already exists in Asia for pine pollen, and New Zealand is well positioned to enter it, if large-scale harvest is enabled.

Plant-based testosterone in pine pollen could be a goldmine – MPI media release

The project set out to improve information and insights to advance the sustainable use of marine resources in a way that protects tikanga Māori and taonga kai in the forum area of the Māhia, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa regions. It improved collaboration, understanding and engagement with key groups in these areas through wānanga and training workshops. It also supported the forum strategy for improved water safety, research opportunities, and wānanga/training delivery planning. Tangata Kaitiaki, customary fishers, whānau/hapū involved in the project have reported feeling invigorated, motivated and inspired to learn more about sustainable management within the context of law and lore to support the legal framework and honour mātauranga Māori.

Ahikā Kai Wairewa is a Wairewa marae initiative to connect landowners within our takiwā with opportunities to generate income and ensure food security through regenerative agriculture. The project enables whānau to connect with each other and their culture. It is a pathway to health and self-determination. The project utilises a māra as the platform for engagement and capacity building and an incubator for other whenua-based opportunities.

The Hikuwai Uawa Cluster is a collective of three incorporations and one partnership, farming nine separate sheep and beef farms. This project supported them to collectivise and dive deeper into understanding and identifying efficiencies across cropping, stock production, horticulture while promoting positive environmental outcomes.

This project aimed to establish an economic way of using 'out-of-grade' potatoes and kumara, by developing higher value ingredients such as protein and starch. It developed a business case that proposes new ways to use these ingredients.  

‘Branching Out’ aimed to diversify food and fibre value chains to generate better economic, social and environmental outcomes for Taranaki. Phase 1 identified a number of feasible sectors with potential to add diversification value. SFF Futures is now supporting Phase 2 of this project, which will work in 6 sectors and apply the information practically, to prove that diversification is possible.

New programme to boost high-value products in Taranaki – Beehive

Branching out – Venture Taranaki 

This project aimed to take a crucial step towards establishing commercial production of neosaxitoxin (NeoSTX), a potent toxin found in the microalgae Alexandrium pacificum, to develop the world’s first algal-based pain relief. Clinical development of NeoSTX has shown that it acts as a unique nerve-blocking compound and delivers extended pain relief in surgical patients. Cawthron has now developed a scalable process for producing NeoSTX to deliver clinical and commercially relevant quantities, and it’s hoped this will assist with taking NeoSTX through to Phase 2 clinical trials with Cawthron’s international partners.

World’s first algae-based local anaesthetic another step closer to reality – Beehive

Gourmet Direct developed a scalable production model to produce Rose Veal derived from mature bobby calves. The project showed that it is possible to provide chilled Rose Veal 12 months of the year.

Gourmet Direct tested the meat twice to ascertain nutrient levels and produced a nutrition and health benefit report. The meat achieved AsureQuality certification for animal welfare and traceability. Gourmet Direct also drafted a meat consumption and Rose Veal market report and conducted research on options to better utilise the by-products. Currently, the volume of by-products is too low for higher-value utilisation.

Aotea Organics developed recipes and new products for marine, poultry, and mushroom salami. They also produced new Sous Vide products from fish, Wild Goat and organic lamb and beef. Their Kiwi Kingfish Salami was a finalist in the 2022 New Zealand Food Awards, chilled category

At the end of the project, Tuna, Kingfish and Mullet salami were in the domestic market through The Produce Company. Salami trials were in progress to achieve quality after freezing and thawing for export markets. Aotea Organics had attained a level of 95% Assure Quality for Organic certification and were in the process of completing OMAR (Overseas Market Access Requirements) for Japan.

This trial set out to determine the effects of feeding BOVAER to calves. Calves in the study received a BOVAER® 10 feed supplement in their first 100 days to see if it reduced methane emissions over their lifetime. A strong methane reduction effect (51%-59%) was measured while BOVAER® 10 was fed to the calves during the first 14 weeks of life, with no impact on calf liveweight or health. Animal performance was continually monitored for the nine months post supplementation, and no effects on health or performance were observed. There were several challenges with methane measurements during this period, and a significant (>10%) and lasting methane reduction was not observed. The researchers halted the study for three main reasons. Firstly, the 10% methane reduction threshold (9 months after the last day of supplementation) was not reached at the go/no go decision point. Secondly, the study had not been designed to capture methane reductions below the 10% threshold. Also, the integrity of the study was compromised due to the challenges with methane measurement. The current form of BOVAER benefits farms with supplemental feed. Royal DSM is researching and developing a slow-release form. This is likely to be more suitable for New Zealand pasture systems that don’t supplement feed as much.

Early life application of methane inhibitor BOVAER 10 in dairy calves - Public summary of trial results  [PDF, 255 KB]

This project developed a tool to estimate carbon dioxide equivalent emissions for the piggery operations of New Zealand pig farmers. The tool was adapted from an existing Australian model to suit New Zealand farming operations and emissions reporting data and criteria. It is run in-house by the New Zealand Pork Industry Board and based on surveys of New Zealand pig farmers.

This project aimed to create an internet-of-things (IoT) platform to inform and improve farming practices on Māori-owned land in the Hawke’s Bay. Using the Te Aho Matua framework and Microsoft FarmBeats, the project has created a cloud-based platform with relevant environmental metrics. Data from land-based sensors and networks could not be collected in time due to supply shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant the project was unable to achieve all its intended outcomes. However, Haunui Technology Group plans to next use its cloud-based platform to monitor marine environments due to existing sensors in place.

This project successfully developed and manufactured a proof of concept for biodegradable plastic pots that will last 12 months above ground before biodegrading. This would be an alternative for the high impact pots used in nurseries and garden centres.

This project aims to help the trustees of the Gladstone Land Cluster in the Wairarapa to explore opportunities to use their land and expand their asset and income base as part of a 3 to 5 year medium-term plan.

This project developed procedures and guidance for managing the risk of food borne pathogens on apples and pears. It received positive engagement from industry, particularly in training and extension programmes, and in applying new food safety practices. The strong commitment from growers has led to some packhouses sharing their learnings – and even their monitoring and cleaning crews – to improve practices across the board. The revised approach will help ensure New Zealand apple and pear production and fruit handling systems continue to meet the requirements of export markets.

The project trial found that the introduced parasitoid wasp appears to be an effective biological control agent for giant willow aphid, and able to proliferate and spread up to 100km from release locations. At the earliest release sites, monitored for two subsequent years, aphid abundance decreased each year, and the proportion of aphid-free trees increased.

Tiny parasitoid wasp packs a big punch in fight against giant willow aphid – MPI media release

The project has improved understanding of this pest including likely impact, life cycle, and poplar susceptibility. It found that although spread was as expected, severity of impact was less, and resistance exists in some New Zealand poplar cultivars. This will feed into future work between Scion and Plant & Food Research to consider poplar sawfly’s impact and potential controls.