Grape Days 2026: AI Adoption and Vineyard Research Insights
Generative AI in the workplace, trials in the field, and industry-relevant research took centre stage at this year’s Grape Days events in Central Otago, Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough.
Chinese scientists have signed a deal to set up a commercial animal cloning centre in the northern port city of Tianjin.
Chinese scientists have signed a deal to set up a commercial animal cloning centre in the northern port city of Tianjin.
It will produce 100,000 beef cattle embryos initially, increasing to one million.
The plant in the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Area (TEDA), a government-sponsored business development park, will also clone sniffer and pet dogs and racehorses. Its main building is now being built and is due to open in the first half of 2016.
Sinica, a subsidiary of Boyalife Group, which focuses on stem cell and regenerative medicine, signed the agreement with the TEDA this month.
Chinese farmers are struggling to produce enough beef cattle to meet market demand, said Xu Xiaochun, board chairman of Boyalife Group.
Scientists have cloned mice, cattle and other animals since the world's first cloned sheep, Dolly, was born on July 5, 1996 in Britain. Since 2000, Chinese scientists have cloned sheep, cattle and pigs.
China's first cloning company was set up in September 2014 in the eastern Shandong Province, first birthing three pure-blood Tibetan mastiff puppies. The firm is a joint venture between Boyalife and Sooam Biotech.
Until then cloning in China had been limited to scientific research.
OPINION: The time has come for the Government to back the organic sector.
Plan ahead and be patient. That’s the message to farmers and horticulturalists from the chairman of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association, Kent Weir.
The industry is crying out for graduates with agricultural related degrees.
While GPS and guidance have become the norm and yield mapping and variable application continues to gain traction, most agricultural machinery manufacturers continue to expand their technology offerings, amalgamating the vast amounts of data being collected to streamline real-time and ongoing management decisions.
Supply chain problems, growing protectionism and a move to greater food security are some of the key challenges facing New Zealand exporters, according to our top trade negotiator, Vangelis Vitalis.
A spat within the ranks of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association has resulted in the suspension of outspoken North Canterbury farmer Barry Cuttance.

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