Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is calling for research proposals for projects to investigate regenerative farming practices.
Funding will be provided through the Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) co-investment fund.
MPI chief science advisor Dr John Roche said that MPI saw regenerative farming as a set of practices that, in isolation or collectively, could result in improved outcomes for land, animals, and growers.
“Regenerative agriculture is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ activity with prescribed inputs and outputs,” Roche said.
He said that some practices New Zealand farmers already used could be considered regenerative.
“By determining which farming practices have a positive impact on environmental sustainability and human health and wellbeing in the New Zealand context, we’ll be able to confidently share these regenerative practices widely with farmers,” he said.
“An important part of these projects will be turning the findings into practical information for farmers, to help them adopt methods that are shown to work.”
MPI’s director investment programmes, Steve Penno, said there was increasing interest from farmers and the wider community in regenerative agricultural practices.
“We’re looking to define what regenerative agriculture means from a New Zealand perspective, and develop a sound evidence base to test and confirm what works in our soils, climates, and farming systems,” he said.
“We’re excited about what the future may hold in the regenerative agriculture space and we encourage anyone who thinks their idea might be eligible to get in touch.”
The New Zealand Food Network's (NZFN) fifth birthday celebrations have been boosted by a whopping five tonne meat donation from meat processor ANZCO.
Pukekohe vegetable growers farewelled 101-year-old Alan Wilcox in late July, celebrating his many achievements and reflecting the widespread respect in which he was held.
A new nationwide survey shows New Zealanders expect farmers and food producers to play a leading role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but also gave them higher marks than most industries for their current efforts.
North Otago farmer Jane Smith is standing for the Ravensdown South Island director seat.
"Unwelcome" is how the chief executive of the Horticulture Export Authority (HEA), Simon Hegarty, describes the 15% tariff that the US has imposed on primary exports to that country.
Fertiliser co-operative Ballance has written down $88 million - the full value of its Kapuni urea plant in Taranaki - from its balance sheet in the face of a looming gas shortage.