Thursday, 05 April 2018 10:55

Alternative proteins a potential bottom line booster

Written by 
Special trade envoy and meat farmer Mike Petersen. Special trade envoy and meat farmer Mike Petersen.

Guy Wrigley, Federated Farmers arable industry chairman, said the prospect of plant-based protein foods should not be cause for alarm. 

A new survey reveals alternative proteins are both an opportunity and a threat to New Zealand.

For example, he says in Canterbury where land is suitable for red meat, dairy or arable production, alternative protein sources could easily fit into the farming mosaic. 

“But in the meantime, we also have a very strong alliance with traditional protein sources that remain in demand, namely dairy, poultry and pork, which all rely on the arable sector for grain supplies.”

Beef + Lamb NZ special trade envoy and meat farmer Mike Petersen said he also sees in the alternative protein market as many opportunities as threats. 

Bayleys national country manager Duncan Ross said the rise of alternative proteins should not worry farmers, but instead prompt them to consider getting other income as a result of those opportunities.

“Ultimately it is all about protein sources, and we may even see land that was once used for dairying or beef head into crop production for these products,” he says. 

“[That could be] without necessarily suffering any loss in capital value or income reduction; in fact the opposite may be true in the long term as demand increases for these products.” 

More like this

Federated Farmers Welcomes Pause on Waikato PC1 Rules

The Government has announced it will pause key parts of Waikato Plan Change 1 (PC1) in a decision that is set to give Waikato farmers a reprieve from new consenting and farm-planning requirements while the wider resource management system is overhauled.

'LinkedIn Greens'

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities Party, labelled by some as the 'LinkedIn Greens' for their corporate spin on Green-esque 'tax the rich' policies.

Levy Scrutiny

OPINION: Mike Chapman, former chief executive of levy-funded HortNZ, has thrown out a challenge to farmers and growers to put their levy-funded industry organisations under the same scrutiny as fertiliser, electricity, labour and freight.

Featured

Federated Farmers Welcomes Pause on Waikato PC1 Rules

The Government has announced it will pause key parts of Waikato Plan Change 1 (PC1) in a decision that is set to give Waikato farmers a reprieve from new consenting and farm-planning requirements while the wider resource management system is overhauled.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'LinkedIn Greens'

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…

UK Warning

OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter