Research
Gene technologies – a fork in the road
As the world faces mounting challenges such as food security, climate change, and environmental degradation, the New Zealand Government is reconsidering its stance on genetic technologies. Farmlands Category Manager Lisa Lunn’s 2024 Kellogg Report Understanding a future with genetic technologies in New Zealand agriculture delves into the issue.
Designing agricultural policy for a future in farming
New Zealand farmers face significant challenges reconciling environmental regulations with economic realities. Kerry Worsnop’s 2023 Nuffield report The mountain we need to climb – designing agricultural policy for a future in farming addresses those in leadership, agricultural policy makers and others with an interest in how we deliver better outcomes for those on the land and for the land itself.
CT Scanner to improve eating quality
When used in combination with ultrasound scanning CT scanning can almost double the rate of genetic progress in intramuscular fat compared to using ultrasound alone. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp Photos Dr. Neville Jopson.
What’s the Beef?
Over 1.8 million non-replacement calves are produced annually and processed at 4-7 days old in New Zealand. Matt Iremonger’s 2023 Nuffield report looks at the opportunity for beef on dairy to shift the value chain from dysfunctional to functional.
In search of the holy grail
Tools available to farmers to help reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions are thin on the ground currently, but AgriZeroNZ is doubling down on its efforts to deliver the holy grail – a methane vaccine – with its recent investment in US start-up ArkeaBio. Words Rebecca Greaves.
Alliance Group takes blowtorch to costs to save co-op
Space has been shaved off at Alliance Group’s head office in Christchurch to save money spent on rent.
Survival of the Fittest
Legacy structures are proving to be a major headache for the meat processing sector and the farmers supplying it with livestock. Words Tony Leggett.
Investigating regenerative agriculture in a dryland system
On-Farm Research is now two years into a project investigating Regenerative Agriculture (RA) and what role this might play in a dryland farming system. Words Paul Muir, On-Farm Research
Beefing up health
Blood tests from people eating beef from animals fed a functional, diverse pasture mix – sown so the animals can decide what they eat – have higher levels of vitamin E and several other compounds that can be beneficial to human health.
Red meat for wellbeing
Overseas consumers have a strong interest in improving their wellbeing through eating red meat, newly published research shows; highlighting opportunities to achieve a premium for products with proven health benefits. Words Rebecca Greaves.