Data sharing initiative wins national award for saving farmers time
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
The days of storing anhydrous milk fat (AMF) in giant drums may soon be over, says Fonterra.
In a claimed industry-first, the co-op has launched packaging for high-quality milk fats (AMFs).
As an alternative to the industry norm of storing the light-shy product in giant drums or frozen packs, it has developed 15L cardboard packs that stack and handle easily and can be stored at room temperature.
AMF is a butter alternative used in ice cream, confectionary, baked goods and others.
Fonterra Dairy Foods category director Casey Thomas says Fonterra saw a need to pack AMF conveniently without refrigeration, and airtight. It overcame oxidation challenges and worked with packaging firm Sealed Air (NZ) to develop a foil barrier bag with a specially designed valve to keep light and oxygen out.
The lightweight 15L cartons are easy to handle and can be efficiently and safely warehoused, saving costs on refrigeration, storage and transport.
A new manufacturing process quickly chills the AMF to create a fine texture and allows customers to scoop it straight from the box without needing to melt it first.
Says Casey, “This new packaging is hugely beneficial to small bakeries and artisan food manufacturers: more convenient and cost-efficient in smaller amounts that match the volumes they need.”
A customer in Taiwan has signed to buy, and customers in Algeria, South Africa and Peru are interested.
Fonterra general manager Taiwan, Sera Cheng, says the co-op has been selling AMF to customers there for 20 years and “we know our customers welcome the new, easy-to-open format”.
The first shipment of the cardboard packs has landed in Taiwan and has withstood being shipped.
“Based on our pre-launch customer survey, our customers can’t wait to receive the new packs,” Cheng says.
The new packaging will save the co-op manufacturing costs.
AMF is high quality, 99.9% pure milk fat derived from fresh cream by a mechanical process that removes almost all the water and non-fat solids.
NZMP AMF adds a dairy flavour and creaminess to food and drink products, e.g. chocolate, confectionary, ice cream, baking, processed cheese and other milk products.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.