Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures projects

This project delivered the Vine to Wine book, a winegrowing industry education resource to support secondary school teachers to include winegrowing related topics in NCEA levels 1,2 and 3. The resource contains industry reference information, data and practical examples.

Vine to Wine teaching resource for Years 11 to 13

The project surveyed the composition and potential bioactivity of mono and multifloral honeys from Rēkohu/Wharekauri (Chatham Islands) and presented findings to industry stakeholders. This research into the properties of locally grown honey will potentially enable unique products to be developed by the Chatham Islands apicultural industry.

This project explored Māori perspectives on the use of animals in research. The researchers published articles on the topic and created teaching resources for secondary school students. The findings were also presented at the Australian & New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) conferences.

Māori Concepts in Animal Ethics: Implications for the Three Rs – Taylor and Francis Online

This project aimed to develop a new industry in New Zealand that will supply premium cider both domestically and for export. It  developed a roadmap that identified the key issues and work streams required to coordinate this emerging sector. In phase 2 Cider Apples NZ plans to raise private investment and develop a programme of work to accelerate the development of the new industry.

Roadmap for Premium Cider Industry in New Zealand - Full Report

This project aimed to commercially validate the technology to produce advanced lignin raw materials derived from the by-product of the wood pulping process (black liquor). Futurity has advanced the understanding of how New Zealand lignin from radiata pine can be commercially competitive and provide low-carbon alternatives to petrochemicals. Increasing the scale of production of lignin toward pilot scale has demonstrated that this is technically possible.

Wood petrochemical substitutes one step closer – Newsroom

This project aimed to create a circular economy by developing high value uses for unexportable kabocha waste. Lab scale trials have successfully developed kabocha waste such as kernel, seeds and skin into high value exportable products. The next stage will involve larger quantity prototype development for further testing and market validation.

This project established the feasibility of digital tools to streamline harvesting and efficient delivery of wild deer, and measure the environmental impact of hunting by the location of harvested deer relative to native flora and fauna. The resulting tool aims to provide hunters with premiums for harvesting deer from sites with increased environmental significance, plus inbuilt traceability, and compliance documentation.

This project has created a new certification process that allows new Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) owners to operate immediately. This has removed the 12-to-18-month delay between purchasing the equipment and being able to operate the aircraft, which was a significant barrier to the adoption of UAV in the agricultural sector.

The project has also developed an agriculture-specific training course for UAV pilots to enhance the quality and safety of Remote Pilot Aircraft Systems agricultural aviation training in New Zealand.

The project aimed to understand the impacts of soil management practices on grape production and vineyard management. Following grower engagement, Bragato Research Institute has developed a pilot soil management tool, which allows users to access soil type information for their location, and recommended soil management practices. 

This project was targeted at the use of two supplements to reduce methane emissions that might be suitable for use under pastoral or feedlot conditions. Asparagopsis armata, a red seaweed that contains bromoform, was shown to be highly effective in research settings. The project was unable to secure sufficient supply of high quality Asparagopsis and so larger-scale field trials were not undertaken.   

Methane inhibition in sheep fed Asparagopsis armata and Mootral - New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

This project aimed to validate test procedures and recommendations for management of nitrate in New Zealand process vegetable crops. The trial sites were significantly impacted by the effects of Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle in Year 2 of the trial, so final harvest measurements could not be completed during the project timeframe.

This project aimed to develop sustainable methods to manage the eucalyptus tortoise beetle pest Paropsis charybdis that defoliates Eucalyptus nitens (short fibre producing) trees. The researchers reared and released approved biological control agent Eadya daenerys into a plantation in the Waikato and 3 plantations in Southland for 2 years. The establishment success couldn’t be confirmed at the end of the project. The research also found that the ladybird Cleobora mellyi and the native bug Oechalia schellenbergii were both active predators of Paropsis charybdis and Paropsisterna cloelia in a eucalyptus plantation in Blenheim.

Comparison of the biology, ecology and potential pest impacts of the eucalypt-defoliating leaf beetles Paropsisterna cloelia and Paropsis charybdis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in New Zealand - New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

This project engaged South Otago catchment groups and communities to improve ecosystem health and freshwater quality through riparian planting, wetland establishment, streambank reconstruction and the use of innovative technologies. It also explored supplier premiums for environmental actions, and ways to connect with the community by working with schools, propagation workshops and sharing cultural values through the use of short videos.

This project has found a direct relationship between Blood Urinary Nitrogen (BUN) and Urinary Nitrogen (UN).  Farmers will now be able to measure UN from blood samples and create Estimated Breeding Values (EBV), to breed more cows with Low-N genetics. Previous work and calculations have shown that adoption of Low-N genetics will, over time, reduce environmental nitrogen from cattle by at least 20%. This study demonstrates potential reductions of at least 28%.

Hereford heifers with lower blood urea nitrogen breeding values excrete urine with lower nitrogen concentration – New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 

Phenotypic and genetic parameters for blood urea nitrogen concentration and its genetic relationships with growth traits in Hereford cattle – New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research  

This project has helped New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) improve their operations through use of digital platforms and online delivery of events. It has also strengthened NZYF’s core business by introducing new revenue streams, which have helped club leaders build capability and strengthen their network of volunteers. Through this project, NZYF has established a youth council and network to provide a voice for young people into sector issues and create leadership opportunities.

Investing in the future of New Zealand Young Farmers – Beehive

The project has successfully developed a method of producing commercial-scale quantities of rodent bait containing norbormide. This is residue-free, meaning it is safe for use on farms.

This project successfully supported the development of a now self-sustaining, purpose-built horticulture hub at Katikati College. The programme provides education, training opportunities, and career pathways into horticulture to secondary school students, youth Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs), and career changers. It was a collaborative approach between the Katikati Innovative Horticulture Trust, Katikati College, horticultural training providers, and the horticulture sector.

Katikati's GrowHub, new centre for educational excellence - The Orchardist magazine, page 28 [PDF, 13MB]

This project investigated the impact of reduced nitrogen fertiliser, feed inputs and stocking rate on nitrogen surplus, greenhouse gas emissions and profitability. It achieved 2030 emissions reduction targets and nitrogen surplus reductions each year, with varying impact on profitability. A follow-up project is currently being undertaken to test some of the modelled assumptions and the long-term sustainability of a lower emissions farm.

The project has successfully scaled up the production of microbially-derived dairy protein from lab scale to pilot scale (up to 20 litre fermentation volume). It gathered data and established conditions for fermentation, increasing yield twentyfold.

This project aimed to enhance the performance and use of two predator mites used for biocontrol in New Zealand glasshouses. It also studied opportunities to enhance bumblebee pollination in crops. The project successfully raised populations of the predator mite Limonicus, and tested their efficacy at commercial scale. This resulted in the commercial release of a new product called LimoMax for biological control in New Zealand.

The project also determined that Spidex rearing colonies performed better under controlled environmental conditions of light supplementation, humidity and temperature. The team were able to harvest a high percentage of mites using a prototype harvesting tool. This research has made Spidex production more efficient.

The bumblebee focused work found evidence to suggest that bumblebee colonies were more active and for longer after being treated with a substitute for queen bee pheromone. It also determined that disease was unusual in commercial rearing colonies and that bumblebees in New Zealand are highly inbred. The impact this is having on colonies is unclear, and would require further study.

New research aims to increase longevity of bumblebee hives for NZ growers – MPI media release

Bumblebee pollination – Rural Delivery (6.54)