A voluntary seed levy lifted research funding by about 60%
A levy on seed sales funds long-term research and new researchers across universities and research institutes.
|November 2, 2026Listen to the full interview:
This episode featured as part of the Agronomy segment in partnership with PGG Wrightson.
A voluntary levy on seed sales lifted funding for New Zealand seed research by about 60%.
Seed Industry Research Centre general manager Ivan Lawrie says the centre started on 1 July 2017 with nine partners and now has 16, including universities and the Federated Farmers seed group. “The seed industry of New Zealand is the engine room of the primary industries,” he says.
He says Canterbury grows 60% of the world’s radish seed and a third of its carrot seed.
The first 50 licensees of New Zealand Grown Grains met this month.
To learn more, visit sirc.co.nz
This episode featured as part of the Agronomy segment in partnership with PGG Wrightson. Make sure to contact PGG Wrightson to plan your crop and pasture requirements. You can find your local Technical Field Representative or store team at https://store.pggwrightson.co.nz/find-your-store
Watch the full interview:
CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.
