Project to research impact of regenerative farming practices

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says the Government will commit $2 million over six years in Hawke’s Bay with the aim of building up an evidence base on the application and effectiveness of regenerative farming in typical intensive field cropping and arable systems.

“This will be the first project in our regenerative agriculture portfolio to include the arable sector and brings together key stakeholders across the value-chain,” O’Connor says.

The project is led by Hawke’s Bay Future Farming Charitable Trust with science and operations partner LandWISE, will be run by LandWISE’s demonstration farm in the Heretaunga Plans, with a focus on degraded soils.

“It complements the research already underway on the effectiveness of regenerative farming practices in our pastoral farming systems,” O’Connor says.

The ‘Carbon Positive – Regenerating soil carbon’ project is co-funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures).

The project is supported by a collaboration of regional and national organisations including Kraft Heinz NZ , McCain Foods NZ, Hawke’s Bay Vegetable Growers, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, and BASF.

“Worldwide we’re seeing increased demand for food grown sustainably with a reduced environmental footprint. There are exciting opportunities for New Zealand to tap into this market, which is why we’re co-investing with industry,” he says.

“Working with two global food giants, Kraft Heinz Watties NZ and McCain Foods NZ, will also help us better understand how New Zealand can supply products to meet future consumer trends.”

O’Connor says the demonstration farm will be split and managed with three different systems to validate any benefits.

“The researchers will set up a conventional system using current industry best practice and recognised crop rotations,” he says.

“They will also set up a fully regenerative system involving cover crops and minimal use of herbicides and insecticides, and a hybrid system that incorporates a mixture of techniques to help demonstrate a transitional pathway for farmers.

“The project team will do extensive monitoring to measure and evaluate the impact on productivity and profitability, to help them develop best practice.

“Potential outcomes from the regenerative farming approach could include improved water quality and use; reduced nutrient losses and use; healthier soils; and resilience to climate change,” O’Connor says.

Phil Schofield, Hawke’s Bay Future Farming Trust chair and soil health specialist, says the trial is an exciting opportunity to test whether soils used for intensive cropping can be regenerated.

“The potential of this project for New Zealand’s cropping farmers is huge. Through this study we will increase our understanding of the benefits of regenerative agriculture principles on intensive cropping systems,” he says.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of our funding and collaboration partners. And delighted that our region’s largest food processors are involved and eager to help explore practices that can put our growers on a better footing environmentally and financially and make their systems more resilient in the face of climate change. Our test site will showcase alternative management systems that growers can adopt.”