Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures projects

Working in collaboration with leading architects and designers, this project aims to develop a sustainable strong wool carpet tile that will meet both New Zealand and international building standards and environmental credentials. It aims to provide a natural alternative to the commercial building sector, which relies predominantly on nylon and polyester fibres.

This programme is designed to take the dairy sheep industry from the piloting phase through to an established primary industry, following on from Spring Sheep’s successful 6-year pilot programme, Sheep Horizon Three. The next stage will involve expanding into the Taranaki region alongside Spring Sheep’s regional partners, Parininihi ki Waitotara. Several R&D projects are planned to improve industry understanding of sheep milk and refine best practice standards across the industry.

Media releases

Government supports innovative dairy sheep sector to scale up – Beehive

Programme documents

Scale Up Outcome Logic Model [PDF, 199 KB]

Quarterly progress report summaries

April 2024 to June 2024 – Scale Up progress report [PDF, 769 KB]

April 2023 to June 2023 – Scale Up progress report [PDF, 240 KB]

January 2023 to March 2023 – Scale Up progress report [PDF, 232 KB]

October 2022 to December 2022 – Scale Up progress report [PDF, 220 KB]

July 2022 to September 2022 – Scale Up progress report [PDF, 216 KB]

The project is using a farmer-led, whole-system approach to stop and then reverse water quality degradation in the Amuri Basin of North Canterbury. It is focusing on reducing nutrient concentrations and improving water quality in drains and streams. This will involve extensive leadership and collaboration between sub-catchment groups to find appropriate solutions for each area.

Government backs strategy to improve water quality in Amuri Basin – Beehive

Unrealised Potential builds on the outcomes of the Precision Seafood Harvesting Primary Growth Partnership programme. It aims to complete research to validate the benefits of the Modular Harvest System (MHS) technology on species survivability, selectivity and quality. It will then commercialise a prototype technology to improve data collection from the in-trawl environment and enable further reductions in unintended catch mortality, including protected species. As well as gaining approval for additional species and fishing areas, the programme will seek commercialisation opportunities including manufacturing and distribution for the MHS both domestically and within key international markets.

Media releases

Kiwi technology safeguarding fish stocks offers global opportunity – Beehive

Programme documents

Outcome logic model [PDF, 136 KB]

Precision Seafood Harvesting Primary Growth Partnership programme

Quarterly progress report summaries

'Unrealised Potential' SFF Futures Programme quarterly report Year 3 Q1 – October to December 2024 [PDF, 150 KB]

'Unrealised Potential' SFF Futures Programme quarterly report Year 2 Q4 – July to September 2024 [PDF, 205 KB]

'Unrealised Potential' SFF Futures Programme quarterly report Year 2 Q3 – April to June 2024 [PDF, 256 KB]

‘Unrealised Potential’ SFF Futures Programme quarterly report Year 2 Q2 – January to March 2024 [PDF, 132 KB]

'Unrealised Potential' SFF Futures programme quarterly report Year 2 Q1 – October to December 2023 [PDF, 133 KB]

'Unrealised Potential' SFF Futures programme quarterly report Year 1 Q4 – July to September 2023 [PDF, 216 KB]

'Unrealised Potential' SFF Futures programme quarterly report Year 1 Q3 – April to June 2023 [PDF, 216 KB]

'Unrealised Potential' SFF Futures programme quarterly report Year 1 Q2 – January to March 2023 [PDF, 214 KB]

The project completed a feasibility study into establishing a shared food and beverage manufacturing facility in Te Tai Tokerau. The study found strong community and industry demand for processes such as juicing, freeze-drying, powdering and extraction. The next steps are finalising the draft business plan to attract investment for building the facility at Ngawha I&E Park.

This project aims to investigate the factors limiting pāua recruitment and fishery productivity in the PAU7 fishery, at the top of the South Island. It will involve dive work and environmental monitoring of the PAU7 aquatic environment. This will underpin a recovery strategy for the fishery.

This project developed free online learning content covering plants and nutrients, nutrient management, fertiliser and irrigation performance assessments, running on-farm trials and developing nutrient budgets. This will help vegetable growers and the wider fresh vegetable production industry to meet increasing environmental expectations.

Access vegetable production nitrogen management courses – LandWISE

The project was successful in developing tank-based methods to grow the seaweed Asparagopsis armata and seeding it onto mussel lines for further growth. The seeded lines were impacted by adverse weather so the marine trials could not be completed. Post-project activities will focus on an on-land system to provide biomass with more consistent bromoform content for use in animal feed.

This project set out to develop technology to process whey permeate as a sweetener product with anti-diabetic properties, transforming a cheesemaking waste product into a value-added natural food additive with potential nutraceutical value. WheyTech Bionics has developed an ultrafiltration process to isolate the peptide in cheese whey, producing a solution which can be dried into a powder and substituted into high sugar foods associated with causing diabetes.

This is a farmer extension and engagement-focused project led by Atkins Ranch. It will build awareness of the challenges and opportunities surrounding regenerative agriculture verification across the sheep and beef sector. The project will assist in promoting and supporting the regenerative production of lamb meat and by-products, and deliver premiums to farmers by securing high-value contracts in overseas markets.

New project to help farmers gain regenerative agriculture certification – MPI media release

This project aimed to demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of utilising greenhouse waste and other green waste to create heat and renewable CO₂ for greenhouses as well as producing, using, and burying char. It successfully demonstrated that it is possible to utilise waste crops to turn valuable biochar into an animal feed additive, and ultimately create a greenhouse hub with negative emissions.

Hot Lime Labs

Wool Impact is being set up as an industry service delivery body that seeks to reset the strong wool ecosystem. It will act as a connector and a catalyst to create new demand for New Zealand strong wool to meet the needs of consumers. It will also support the wool ecosystem with core services to help the sector become market fit and responsive to market-led growth and sustainability. 

Government backs action to drive strong wool growth – Beehive

This project aimed to develop vertical farming facilities in a controlled environment. The programme has been suspended, with GreenLeaf Fresh entering Voluntary Administration on 31 December 2024, and the company is now in liquidation. MPI is taking steps to secure the intellectual property created by the programme

Programme documents

Greengrower Outcome Logic Model [PDF, 139 KB]

Quarterly progress report summaries

April to June 2023 – Greengrower progress report [PDF, 284 KB]

January to March 2023 - Greengrower progress report [PDF, 304 KB]

October to December 2022 - Greengrower progress report [PDF, 362 KB]

July to September 2022 - Greengrower progress report [PDF, 354 KB]

This project aims to attain formal recognition of the NZGAP programme by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This will enable New Zealand producers to export to most international markets, with the benefit of using a NZGAP Standard that has been written and designed specifically for New Zealand producers.

Working in partnership with CRV-Genomics, Bellevue Enterprises Ltd and AgResearch, Animal Breeding Services Ltd will address the issue of Large Offspring Syndrome in dairy cattle, which is caused by in-vitro embryo production. The project will find a way to measure gene expression during embryo in-vitro culture (IVC) and investigate IVC mediums that improve embryo transfer and calf development.

This project funded the construction, testing, delivery, and calibration of a fully electric spray unit to demonstrate spraying can be done completely electrically with an electric tractor. This will add to the body of evidence to demonstrate to farmers that electrification is possible and financially beneficial.

The 1500e01 electric foliage sprayer is now complete - and it works perfectly – Forest Lodge Orchard

The project developed a suite of technologies and approaches to transform commercial fishing operators’ ability to collect data and determine the sustainability status of various pelagic fish species including blue and jack mackerel.  New digital data collection apps and data management systems were incorporated into fishery operations. Novel technologies and analytical models were also developed for ongoing assessment and implementation.

This whole-farm scale study in North Canterbury aims to validate the science of regenerative farming. The programme will scientifically evaluate the financial, social and environmental differences between regenerative and conventional practices. It will compare outcomes on a 286-hectare dairy farm at Ngāi Tahu Farming’s Te Whenua Hou farming operation in North Canterbury with the conventional approach of the farm next-door.

Media releases

New programme to provide insights into regenerative dairy farming – Beehive

Programme documents

Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora Outcome Logic Model [PDF, 143 KB]

Quarterly progress report summaries

October to December 2024: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 250 KB]

July to September 2024: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 199 KB]

April to June 2024: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 184 KB]

January to March 2024: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 205 KB]

October to December 2023: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 203 KB]

July to September 2023: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 219 KB]

April to June 2023: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 198 KB]

January to March 2023: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 196 KB]

October to December 2022: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 355 KB]

August to September 2022: Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizons) progress report [PDF, 199 KB]

The project tested the mechanical properties of the Naturesclip wool material. Alongside this they manufactured sample prototypes and completed research on the Woolkin customer base to identify potential new products and applications.

This project established the on-farm impacts and costs of alligator weed. It also provided practical mitigation and management advice, and education to farmers, growers, and rural contractors. This incorporated excluding, eradicating and/or the progressive containment of alligator weed on agricultural, horticultural and arable farms.

Outcomes from this research will support farm plans, multi-regional/sectoral pest management strategies, and New Zealand weed pathway research and alligator weed identification and education.

Alligator Weed Ute Guide [PDF, 11 MB]