Wired for Science: Understanding the feeding habits of mealybug
Fussy children might be frustrating, but fussy mealybugs could help protect the New Zealand wine industry from grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3.
Founder and chairman of ANZCO Foods, Sir Graeme Harrison is personally funding a professorial chair in Global Value Chains and Trade at Lincoln University.
The newly created position will contribute to the research and teaching at the university, but Harrison hopes it will also help lead change in the way New Zealand businesses engage globally throughout the value chain.
According to Lincoln University vice-chancellor Dr Andrew West, position will need a unique set of skills.
"As well as carrying core academic responsibilities, we see the appointee becoming a leading spokesperson on global trade, particularly around the challenges facing New Zealand's agricultural exports," says West.
Harrison believes that New Zealand businesses must understand global supply chains and where they can add value. This new role will aim to educate future business leaders as well as provide leadership in today's industry.
"Ideally we're looking for someone who has developed a high profile and strong reputation outside the academic world, but who has the ability to pass that knowledge on to students, conduct and lead quality research, and collaborate with industry," he says.
The new role is particularly timely with work continuing on the development of the 'Lincoln Hub' – a partnership designed to combine expertise and infrastructure within the primary sector.
Global trade has been thrown into another bout of uncertainty following the overnight ruling by US Supreme Court, striking down President Donald Trump's decision to impose additional tariffs on trading partners.
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill have been lifted.
Fonterra farmer shareholders and unit holders are in line for another payment in April.
Farmers are being encouraged to take a closer look at the refrigerants running inside their on-farm systems, as international and domestic pressure continues to build on high global warming potential (GWP) 400-series refrigerants.
As expected, Fonterra has lifted its 2025-26 forecast farmgate milk price mid-point to $9.50/kgMS.
Bovonic says a return on investment study has found its automated mastitis detection technology, QuadSense, is delivering financial, labour, and animal-health benefits on New Zealand dairy farms worth an estimated $29,547 per season.

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