increase font size
A scientist instrumental in the development and commercialisation of the novel endophyte AR37 scooped the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science and Research Award at Beef + Lamb NZ Awards last night.
AgResearch plant scientist, Dr David Hume received the award from Ballance director Dani Darke.
Accepting the award, Hume noted that it was recognition for science and research that goes on in New Zealand.
“Usually, it happens under the radar,” he says.
He attributed his success “to the success of the team around me”.
“They are a bunch of brilliant scientists.”
Hume says the award was the best he has received and coming from the farming sector – the end users of the endophyte- was special.
It has been estimated that AR37 has contributed $3.6 billion to the New Zealand economy over a 20-year period.
The judges described Dr David Hume’s work in the development and commercialisation of this endophyte as being world-leading and of immense benefit to New Zealand’s pastoral farming industry.
They commented that his robust and complex science, years of commitment, leadership and focus on commercialisation to benefit the farmer and grow export value had contributed massively to this country’s primary sector.
Hume’s continued research in this field, including the breakthrough science with cereal endophytes, highlights his on-going commitment to New Zealand’s agricultural industry.
An innovative idea for transforming mechanically deboned meat (MDM) into a meat flake for seasoning has taken top honours in the Meat Industry Association’s (MIA) first-ever Dragon’s Den competition.
The Government's plan to merge the seven crown institutes presents exciting possibilities for plant technology company Grasslanz Technology, says chief executive Megan Skiffington.
The red meat sector is poised for a strong rebound this season, with export receipts forecast to top $10 billion and farm profitability to almost double.
Progeny testing at Pāmu’s Kepler farm in Southland as part of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Informing New Zealand Beef programme is showing that the benefits of hybrid vigour could have a massive impact on the future of beef breeding.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has reiterated calls for New Zealand to revise its methane targets after the Government's "disappointing" announcement of its revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
Movement controls have been lifted from Mainland Poultry’s Hillgrove Farm in Otago, after the successful eradication of H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Harvesting is underway of one of New Zealand’s rarest and most unusual fruit - persimmons.
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
