'Grand Alliance' growing grass-fed beef exports to China
Alliance Group and Grand Farm have signed a strategic co-operation agreement with a focus on delivering more premium New Zealand grass-fed beef to Chinese consumers.
MEAT EXPORTER Alliance Group is among companies trialling new refrigeration technology shipping line Maersk says will cut annual CO2 emissions by 500,000t.
“This innovation should deliver an improved cold chain for our high value chilled products, whilst also significantly reducing energy usage during shipping,” says Alliance Group development services manager Gary Maclennan.
“This will have a positive impact on the CO2 footprint of Alliance products into our many markets around the world.”
Dubbed QUEST II, the technology is a follow on from Maersk’s Quality and Energy Efficiency in Storage and Transport (QUEST) system introduced in 2007. It’s the result of a three-year research programme by Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands, with input from Maersk and Carrier Transicold.
Maersk New Zealand trade and marketing manager Dave Gulik says refrigerated containers, or reefers, using the technology require considerably less energy to maintain cargo at a constant temperature.
“Traditional refrigeration systems focus on the air temperature inside the container – whereas what really matters is the temperature of the cargo,” says Gulik.
“The new software... constantly adjusts air flow and temperature control to ensure [cargo temperature] is maintained at optimum levels.
“That means no waste energy, fewer CO2 emissions, and better conditions for the cargo.”
Gulik adds that while container shipping is already by far the most environmentally efficient way to transport goods over long distances, this innovation will cut CO2 emissions per container 65% and is a game changer for the entire transport chain.
“It’s a boon for the lines, but truck and train companies and terminal operators will also see their power bills and CO2 emissions go down.”
Maclennan says the technology fits well with Alliance’s aim to reduce environmental impact from “farm to fork”.
Two butcheries have claimed victory at the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards for 2025.
A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.
The Climate Change Commission’s 2025 emissions reduction monitoring report reveals steady progress on the reduction of New Zealand’s climate pollution.
Another milestone has been reached in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis with the compensation assistance service being wound up after helping more than 1300 farmers.
The Government’s directive for state farmer Landcorp Farming (trading as Pamu) to lifts its performance is yielding results.
The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.
OPINION: Spare a thought for the arable farmer, squeezed on one side by soft global prices and on the other…
OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts…