Thursday, 08 May 2025 10:55

AgriZeroNZ partners with Innovate UK to drive agricultural innovation

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Back row: UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds; PM Christopher Luxon; UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed. Front row: AgriZeroNZ chief executive, Wayne McNee; Innovate UK’s Dr. Peter Dirken at the signing ceremony.

AgriZeroNZ has entered a new partnership with Britain's national innovation agency, Innovate UK.

The partnership was confirmed in London this month with the signing of an agreement at an event hosted by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to celebrate connections between the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Innovate UK and AgriZeroNZ will work together as investor partners, combining grant funding, investment and expertise to stimulate research and development into reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

Wayne McNee, AgriZeroNZ chief executive, said the partnership is expected to unlock new investment opportunities to support its ambition to ensure all farmers in New Zealand have equitable access to affordable, effective solutions to reduce biogenic methane and nitrous oxide emissions.

"The UK is highly regarded as a thriving hub for innovation and we're excited to tap into this network of high potential businesses across the agritech system with Innovate UK."

The partnership is said to complement AgriZeroNZ's diverse investment portfolio which includes UK start up Agroceutical Products, a previous Innovate UK funding recipient. AgriZeroNZ is setting up a new entity with the company in New Zealand and investing up to £2m to investigate how its daffodil extracts could be used as a methane inhibitor to reduce agricultural emissions.

AgriZeroNZ is described as a world-first public-private joint venture focused on helping farmers cut emissions while maintaining their competitive edge.

Established two years ago, the JV is half owned by the New Zealand Government through the Ministry for Primary Industries and the other half owned by private companies - the a2 Milk Company, ANZ Bank New Zealand, ANZCO, ASB Bank, BNZ, Fonterra, Rabobank, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms and Synlait. Private sector funding is matched by Government, dollar-for-dollar, to provide $191 million over AgriZeroNZ's first four years.

More like this

AgriZeroNZ CEO Wayne McNee Resigns; Interim CEO Named

Wayne McNee, chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, has resigned and will leave the organisation on 15 January 2027.

Groundswell on Freshwater Rules, Paris Agreement and AgriZeroNZ

Farmer lobby Groundswell believes that farmers are worried about the implications of a potential centre-left government.

AgriZeroNZ Backs Methane Vaccine and Low-Emissions Ryegrass

AgriZeroNZ has invested a further NZ$17.7 million in methane vaccine developer ArkeaBio and NZ$5.1 million in BioLumic, a New Zealand-founded company that uses ultraviolet light to develop low-emissions pasture..

Editorial: The Value of Credibility

OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.

Ex-National MP: Coup Attempt Could Cost Luxon the Election

I think it's going to greatly weaken National at the election. That's the view of a former senior National MP on the recent attempted coup against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Featured

Fines For Velveting Without Pain Relief, Illegal Slaughter and NAIT Breaches

Three men have been sentenced in District Courts after Ministry for Primary Industries prosecutions over animal welfare, food safety and cattle tracing offences.

A Year of Delivery for Fonterra

Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.

Editorial: Common Sense Prevails

OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.

Ex-Fonterra Suppliers Face Stricter Share Sell-Down Requirements

Dairy farmers, still holding onto their Fonterra shares despite switching milk supply elsewhere or exiting the industry, now face a stricter share sell-down requirement.

Aimer Farming Raises $3M to Launch AI Beef Pasture Tool

Hamilton-based agritech company Aimer Farming has completed a $3 million capital raise to support its next stage of growth, including a beef farming product due to launch in 2027.

Miriam Lauridsen on Farm Health and Safety Culture

When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.