MSA triumph
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first foray into fertiliser co-operative governance.
The new facility replaces ARL's previous site in Hawke's Bay, which was destroyed during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. For the last two years the lab has been operating from a temporary site in Hastings.
ARL says the new lab is closer to key research partners and core farming communities. Attendees at the recent official opening were told that 70% of its work now comes from the South Island.
Ravensdown general manager of innovation, Jasper van Halder, said the decision to bring the lab south was made only last year.
"We found a location, designed the lab and started building in November 2024.
"That's right. Just 10 months ago, this shiny new facility was an empty shell, and this [upper] floor didn't even exist. Now, we're set up for growth and we're picking up where we left off."
He said the new lab was not just about rebuilding but about "strengthening the systems that support farmers, researchers, and land manager across the country."
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The new lab features extensive robotics including five custom-built machines developed by ARL's team.
With seven staff relocated from the original team, the lab employs 30 people and currently processes around 80,000 samples per year, mostly soil. It is expected to be able to double that in soil samples alone while expanding testing capacity for plant, crops, and feed samples.
General manager Suzan Horst said that accurate, timely data was essential.
"It allows farmers to apply nutrients only where needed, which is good for the environment and increases crop production and pasture growth."
Selwyn MP and Associate Minister for Agriculture Nicola Grigg joined Ravensdown chief executive Garry Diack in cutting the cake to declare the new facility officially open.
Grigg called the new lab an exciting addition to Selwyn's agricultural economy.
"Soil science and plant science is the absolute foundation for the success of our agriculture sector.
"You will all have observed that our agricultural exports just about hit 60 billion dollars in the last financial year. That is an extraordinary result given this economy is just clawing its way out of a deeper recession than we went through during the GFC."
Grigg said a new generation of younger farmers understands that offshore markets are deeply interested in the provenance of their food.
"We know this country is only going to get rich by continuing to grow our agricultural exports by continuing to engage in those offshore markets and continuing to have a science-based provenance story.
"As much as we can talk about how wonderful and green our country is and what lovely fresh air we have, it has to be science and evidence-based."
While acknowledging Hawke's Bay's hardship from Cyclone Gabrielle and its resilience in the recovery. Selwyn deputy mayor Malcolm Lyall called the move to Rolleston "a major win for agriculture in our district".
"2.8 billion dollars of GDP is generated out of the Selwyn area per annum. Our agricultural strength as I've mentioned before is massive - dairy, cropping, sheep, beef, horticulture and viticulture."
