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Federated Farmers President Dr William Rolleston.
Federated Farmers wants a plan to attract the world's top scientists to New Zealand to concentrate on those who will work on primary sector initiatives and the environment.
Federated Farmers President Dr William Rolleston says it makes sense for the government's $35 million 'Entrepreneurial Universities' programme to build knowledge in areas which are key to New Zealand's economic and environmental needs.
The four year programme, announced by Science Minister Steven Joyce on Wednesday, aims to encourage the world's leading researchers to bring their teams to work in New Zealand.
"This programme will help New Zealand keep up with the scientific developments already going on around the globe.
"Federated Farmers is keen to engage in the programme to help identify areas of opportunity for the primary industries and the environment," Rolleston says.
Agriculture is a high-tech industry that is intimately linked to the environment.
"The industry's scale brings great opportunities for entrepreneurs. It's critical our farmers have all the tools of modern biology available to them, plus capability in high-tech areas so that we can stay at the forefront as the digital and biology revolutions unfold."
Federated Farmers believes the programme should be about encouraging industry and universities to think about how New Zealand can develop entrepreneurial opportunities, especially in the areas where we already have strength, like biological technologies.
"Our best and biggest opportunities are where we already have strength and scale," Rolleston says.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.
Federated Farmers says climate protest group Greenpeace is manufacturing outrage and attempting to scare New Zealanders with headlines that have no basis in science.
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
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