increase font size
HortNZ chair Barry O’Neil is among many who are highly critical of the present so called ‘competitive science funding model’.
There's an urgent need for a greater focus on science in the food and fibre sector.
HortNZ chair Barry O’Neil says the New Zealand primary sector has developed from the science that was done in the last century, which has enabled our livestock sector – and latterly the horticultural sector – to grow and thrive. But he’s concerned that, in recent times, there has been a loss of focus on using science to support the challenges that lie ahead for the sector.
“I want to see far greater support from the Government and our science bodies to work in partnership with our food and fibre sectors – including the breeding programme for plant and horticultural varieties,” he told Rural News.
“Such a strategy would ensure that we are ahead of the world when it comes to our ability to put into the fruit bowl of consumers, varieties that taste the best.”
O’Neil hopes that in 2021 there will be a greater focus on those breeding programmes that are important when it comes to climate change.
“The goal must be to ensure that we have varieties that are more resilient to a warming climate or the pest pressure that results from the changing climate,” he says.
O’Neil points to the recent initiative by Zespri and Plant and Food Research to set up a special joint venture entity to focus on speeding up the kiwifruit plant breeding programme.
He says Zespri has the critical mass to do this, but that smaller groups don’t have this and rely on largely government-funded science supported in part by industry.
He says NZ definitely needs that connection with science supporting economic development.
O’Neil is among many who are highly critical of the present of the so called ‘competitive science funding model’, which sees CRI’s, universities and private science institutions ‘bid’ for pockets of funding, some quite small. The system is now run by MBIE after earlier being run the Foundation for Research Science and Technology.
For many years, scientists have been frustrated by the system and its outcomes and believe that the primary sector is poorly served by the system.
Rural News understands that many social science projects are being supported under this regime, but with little emphasis on practical science that could really drive economic growth.
Most CRI’s have large teams of highly-qualified, senior scientists and administrators working full time to process and lodge bids.
“Our scientists are spending half their bloody time developing funding bids of which about 90% don’t get supported. What a waste of time for our clever scientist being stuck in a conundrum like this where they have to spend half their valuable time putting in science proposals that often go nowhere,” O’Neil says.
“There is no dedicated food and fibre pot, the system is so complex and convoluted and has lost a sense of reality of what NZ needs from our science system.”
Despite logical protests like those of O’Neil and others, the system remains unchanged and unliked by many in the primary sector.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) and the Government will provide support to growers in the Nelson-Tasman region as they recover from a second round of severe flooding in two weeks.
HortNZ's CEO, Kate Scott says they are starting to see the substantial cumulative effects on their members of the two disastrous flood events in the Nelson Tasman region.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through its Growing Change project.
Nominations are open for three positions on the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board.
More Māori land is being used for growing commercial fruit and vegetables, according to a new report commissioned by Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ).
Kiwis love their butter, and that's great because New Zealand produces some of the best butter in the world. But when the price of butter goes up, it's tough for some, particularly when many other grocery staples have also gone up and the heat goes on co-operative Fonterra, the country's main butter maker. Here the co-op explains why butter prices are so high right now.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown has waded into the debate around soaring butter prices, pointing out that the demand for dairy overseas dictates the price to farmers and at the supermarket.
Farmers are welcoming new Government proposals to make farm health and safety rules more practical and grounded in real-world farming.
Missing fresh mozzarella cheese made at home in Bari, southern Italy, Massimo Lubisco and his wife Marina decided to bring a taste of home to New Zealand.
An A$2 billion bid for Fonterra's Oceania business would be great news, according to Forsyth Barr senior analyst, equities, Matt Montgomerie.
Irish meat processor Dawn Meats is set to acquire a 70% stake in Alliance Group, according to a report in The Irish Times.
OPINION: Your old mate's ear has been chewed off recently by farmers voicing their displeasure with the National Party, particularly…
OPINION: Your old mate hears that at a recent China Business Summit, PM Christopher Luxon delivered a none-too-subtle "could try…
