Red meat industry hails new migrant visa rules as win for jobs and exports
New Zealand's red meat processing and exporting sector has welcomed the government's announcement of new work visas.
New Zealanders will be invited to take part in a major research programme to assess the health and wellbeing benefits of eating pasture-raised beef and lamb, compared to alternatives.
Approximately 100 people will be monitored in two ground-breaking clinical studies, led by researchers from AgResearch, the Riddet Institute and the University of Auckland.
The projects will assess the physical effects on the body from eating the different foods for up to 10 weeks, as well as psychological elements, such as satisfaction, sleep and stress levels.
The research team includes meat scientists, agricultural academics, dietitians, behavioural experts and social scientists.
Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of Meat Industry Association, is excited by the programme of research being undertaken.
She said much of the global research on the health, nutritional and environmental aspects of red meat was based on intensive grain-finished farming systems.
“However, New Zealand specialises in free-range livestock farming that is naturally pasture-raised, antibiotic-free and hormone-free,” Karapeeva said.
“We know there are myths and misinformation about the production and benefits of eating red meat, so we have turned to research to help bring balance to what consumers are hearing.
She said that consumers are making decisions around their diets based on ideologies.
“In part, this is a backlash against broken food systems, such as factory farming and ‘big food’. There is a growing consumer desire for better quality food produced from natural systems, which supports a strong future for ‘real’ red meat as produced in New Zealand,” Karapeeva said.
![]() |
---|
Meat Industry Association chief executive, Sirma Karapeeva says she is excited by the research. |
Results from the two studies will provide baseline data about pasture-raised beef and lamb and its consumption in comparison to other foods.
A sustained clinical study will see members of 40 households on a managed flexitarian dietary regime over 10 weeks.
Participants will be monitored over the course of the study and changes in health status, behaviours and attitudes and perceptual well-being recorded.
The research is supported by Meat Industry Association Innovation (MIA Innovation) and jointly funded with Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd, the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.