increase font size
FLRC director Chris Anderson says the aim of this year’s workshop was to promote robust discussions.
Making science accessible was one of the main features of Massey University’s annual Farmed Landscape Research Centre’s (FLRC) annual workshop.
This took place at the Palmerston North campus last week, with more than 200 people attending the event in person – along with many others who joined online.
FLRC director, Professor Chris Anderson says the aim of this year’s workshop was to promote robust discussions based on the theme of the event – Diverse Solutions.
More than 70 speakers took part in the workshop, including a Danish expert in catchment management Simon Rosendahl Bjorholm. Other keynote speakers included Jacqueline Rowarth of Lincoln University, John Roche of MPI and Richard McDowell of AgResearch.
Anderson says having overseas speakers helps enrich NZ science and develop valuable international contacts.
“Having overseas speakers gives us a different perspective and a chance to reflect on challenges overseas,” he told Rural News.
“We are looking at lessons from Europe because that is a critical export market for NZ. We need to be cognisant of what the trends and expectations are from our partners. That helps us develop new ideas on how we can deliver diverse solution.”
Topics covered at the FLRC event included diverse solutions for greenhouse gases, carbon, water, animals and soils and pasture. The way the programme is run could easily be described as ‘speed dating science’, with all but the keynote presentations limited in length to just ten minutes. However, while short, the presentations widened the scope of workshop giving participants plenty of information to digest and reflect on.
A feature of FLRC this year was the participants were given the option of attending in person or going on-line. Anderson says in changing times many people don’t want to or cannot travel and the online option has proved very popular.
As veterinary student numbers grow to help address New Zealand's national workforce shortge, Massey University's School of Veterinary Science is inviting more veterinary practices to partner in training the next generation of vets.
Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.
The black and white coat of Holstein- Friesian cows is globally recognised as a symbol of dairy farming and a defining trait of domestic cattle. But until recently, scientists didn’t know which genes were responsible for the Holstein’s spots.
Minister for Universities, Shane Reti, has opened the final new build in a ten plus year project to upgrade the veterinary facilities at Massey University.
OPINION: Is it now time for the country's top agricultural university to start thinking about a name change - something that has been mooted in the past?
According to the latest Fresh Produce Trend Report from United Fresh, 2026 will be a year where fruit and vegetables are shaped by cost pressures, rapid digital adoption, and a renewed focus on wellbeing at home.
The Roar is a highlight of the game hunting calendar in New Zealand, with thousands of hunters set to head for the hills to hunt male stags during March and April.
OPINION: The past few weeks have been tough on farms across the North Island: floods and storms have caused damage and disruption to families and businesses.
European dairy giant Arla Foods celebrated its 25th anniversary as a cross-border, farmer-owned co-operative with a solid half-year result.
The sale of Fonterra’s global consumer and related businesses is expected to be completed within two months.
Fonterra is boosting its butter production capacity to meet growing demand.
