NZ scientists make breakthrough in Facial Eczema research
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
A former director of AgResearch, Dr Jock Allison, remains unconvinced about the validity of the AgResearch strategy that has driven changes in personnel.
This is despite assurances by the current chief executive Tom Richardson that despite making 78 scientists and technicians redundant at the CRI research on key projects related to the dairy industry will continue and in many cases increase.
AgResearch has cut 78 positions but is planning to employ 27 new staff in different areas.
Allison questions why AgResearch is starting to get involved in the food sector when Massey and Otago universities are involved, as is Fonterra which, he says, has 500 staff involved in this work.
"They are getting big in Maori agribusiness. Well what's different about Maori agribusiness? Certainly there're opportunities on Maori land, but that's a farm advisor's role; you don't need more science for that, so that is a fictitious reason," Allison claims.
"Then they are getting into areas of farm systems and that again is essentially a farm advisor's job."
Allison says it seems AgResearch and the science funding people are discovering the farm extension business, which he claims he did years ago.
The former AgResearch boss believes there is nowadays very little interaction between scientists, farmers and news media. He says whenever a breakthrough is announced farmers and others seeking more information mostly get put through to 'head office', not to the scientist who did the work.
However, Richardson says science relating to dairy food research is growing and there new people will be employed.
"As well, there is a lot more focus on farm systems and on forages," he told Rural News. "But the main area of growth is in dairy food companies looking to extract extra value from their products, including the dairy goat and emerging sheep milk sector."
Richardson says there is more science the dairy sector wants done, proven by AgResearch's success in MBIE contestable funding rounds for joint ventures, with the likes of the Miraka dairy company.
He says the feedback AgResearch gets from the industry is that it is doing the science that is wanted. But he concedes there is less interest now in some areas because priorities change.
Former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has received the Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand’s Primary Industries Award.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
Fonterra Whareroa wrapped up a successful season with a record-breaking cheese production volume and several gongs at the co-op's annual Best Site Cup awards.
A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in New Zealand.
The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) has announced Felicity Roxburgh will take over as its new executive director.
"We're trying to get to the promised land but we're still in a bit of a swamp at the moment."
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