Keeping cyber attacks at bay
Fonterra says it takes the ongoing threat of 'adverse cyber action' extremely seriously.
Fonterra has commissioned its first wholly owned and operated ingredients plant in Europe.
Developed in partnership with Dutch cheese manufacturer A-ware Food Group, the plant is located on a 25ha site in the northern Netherlands town of Heerenveen.
The new plant produces whey and lactose specialty ingredients for use in high-value paediatric, maternal, and sports nutrition products by Fonterra and its global customers.
Chief executive Theo Spierings says the new plant forms part of Fonterra’s fully integrated global supply chain from the farm gate direct to global consumers, which will use Fonterra’s milk pools and manufacturing sites in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe.
“The commissioning of our new plant in Heerenveen further strengthens our ability to deliver high quality, advanced dairy nutrition that meets the needs of our priority markets and global customers,” he says.
“Fonterra has substantial intellectual property in the manufacture of functional whey protein ingredients and had been looking for some time for a source of high quality whey to enable us to commercialise these innovations.
“Our partnership with A-ware Food Group fits well with our strategic priorities aimed at increasing the volume and value of our ingredients and branded products.”
Fonterra regional director for ingredients in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia & CIS (EMEA), Hans Huistra says the plant’s location and capacity would enable Fonterra to better serve its European and global customer base.
The new plant will produce 5000 metric tonnes of whey protein and 25,000 metric tonnes of lactose annually. It will operate around the clock: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. About 50 new employees currently work for Fonterra at the site.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.