ASB and Lincoln University Report: Smarter Land Use Could Unlock Billions for NZ Farmers
A new report from ASB and Lincoln University shows how smarter, more diverse land use could unlock billions in value for farmers and the wider economy.
Jonathan Jamieson, a Lincoln University student, has been named as the latest recipient of Ravensdown’s Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship offers $5,000 per year for a student studying agriculture or horticulture at Lincoln or Massey universities for the duration of their studies.
Jamieson says that, having grown up on a farm near Bulls, he has always had a strong passion for agriculture which led him to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce in Agriculture at Lincoln University.
“I’ve always known I wanted to work in the sector,” he says. “I love getting outdoors, working with the animals, and learning how to manage the land.”
“During last year’s harvest, I woke up at 5.30am to go asparagus picking to help fund my studies. This scholarship will allow me to focus even more on my academic and career goals,” he adds.
Now in his second year of study, Jamieson’s focus is on agribusiness and the science behind the industry.
“I’ve grown up working on farms with the goal of one day owning my own farm. But deepening my understanding and learning the science behind it has been fascinating,” he says.
In 2024, he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Scholarship, which allowed him to travel to Vietnam for six weeks.
There, he completed an agribusiness paper and learned about the Vietnamese agricultural sector.
“It was an unreal opportunity. I loved getting out of my comfort zone and immersing myself in the Vietnamese culture,” Jamieson says.
“In Vietnam, they have combined rice farming and shrimp farming to make the most from the land. The shrimp help enrich the soil in the rice paddies, while the rice provides a natural environment for the shrimp to thrive.”
Ravensdown chief executive Garry Diack says that Jamieson’s academic excellence and enthusiasm for the science behind farming were what made his entry stand out.
“Ravensdown and this scholarship were built on using science to better agricultural practice in New Zealand. Jonathan shows a clear understanding of the importance of science for all forms of farming, and a passion for its ability to improve how we farm in the future,” Diack says.
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?