fbpx
Print this page
Thursday, 28 July 2022 14:59

New investment aims to boost soil and freshwater health

Written by  Staff Reporters
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor

The Government is co-investing in a $22 million programme aimed at reducing agricultural greenhouse gases and nitrate leaching, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced.

The Government has committed $7.3 million over the course of seven years to the N-Vision NZ programme through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund, O’Connor says.

He says the programme focuses on three technology streams: N-Retain, N-Test, and N-Bio Boost.

“For our future we need innovative tools and technologies to help farmers reduce nitrogen fertiliser use on pastoral farms while maintaining production and profitability.”

Ravensdown is leading the programme, and will contribute $11 million, with Lincoln University and Plant & Food Research providing research expertise.

Ravensdown and Lincoln University will contribute in-kind funding to the value of $3.8 million.

O’Connor says the products and technologies developed through the N-Vision NZ programme will be made widely available under commercial terms.

“This will ensure that the environmental and economic benefits extend to the whole of New Zealand and not just Ravensdown’s customers,” he says.

“This Government is focussed on helping farmers reduce their environmental footprint.”

O’Connor says the work aligns with the sustainability goals of the Fit for a Better World food and fibre sector roadmap.

“Partnerships like N-Vision NZ will help us meet these goals and maintain our economic strength.

“Finding new methods to take action for the health of our soils, waterways, and climate will pave the way towards a healthier future for us all.”

More like this

East Coast Expo delivers two action-packed days of events

The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Featured

Gongs for best field days site

Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.

Feed help supplements Canterbury farmers meet protein goals

Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.

National

Machinery & Products

Buhler name to go

Shareholders at a special meeting have approved a proposed deal that will see Buhler Industries, the publicly traded Versatile and…

Grabbing bales made quick and easy

Front end loader and implement specialist Quicke has introduced the new Unigrip L+ and XL+ next-generation bale grabs, designed for…