Tuesday, 25 September 2018 11:45

Build bigger barns

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Here's a pitch that will have the greenies seeing red. Intensive, high-yielding farming may be the best way to meet rising demand for food while conserving biodiversity, a new study has found.

Organic farming has long been considered more environmentally friendly than intensive, conventional farming, but a study led by scientists at the University of Cambridge, UK suggests perhaps not, provided more natural habitat can be “spared the plough”. Nature Sustainability reported that the study had researchers working with 17 organisations in the UK and worldwide, including people in Poland, Brazil, Australia, Mexico and Colombia. They analysed data from 100s of studies of four large food sectors – Asian paddy rice, European wheat, Latin American beef and European dairy.

Featured

NZEI unhappy with funding cut for teachers

Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa says that while educators will support the Government’s investment in learning support, they’re likely to be disappointed that it has been paid for by defunding expert teachers.

EU regulations unfairly threaten $200m exports

A European Union regulation ensuring that the products its citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide threatens $200m of New Zealand beef and leather exports.

Bionic Plus back on vet clinic shelves

A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.

National

Top ag scientist to advise PM

A highly experienced agricultural scientist with specialist knowledge of the dairy sector is the Prime Minister's new Chief Science Advisor.

Machinery & Products

Hose runner saves time and effort

Rakaia-based equipment manufacturer Pluck’s Engineering will soon start production of a new machine designed to simplify the deployment and retrieval…

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Milking It

Science fiction

OPINION: Last week's announcement of Prime Minister’s new Science and Technology Advisory Council hasn’t gone down too well in the…

Bye bye Paris?

OPINION: At its recent annual general meeting, Federated Farmers’ Auckland province called for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris…

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