Rock dust or fairy dust?
OPINION: Rock dust is being touted as the new carbon sequestration saviour.
OPINION: The shakeup to the science sector with the proposed merger of four ag related crown research institutes (CRIs) into one conglomerate has drawn little public reaction.
Perhaps surprising given the importance of science to the future prosperity of NZ and the primary sector.
Much has been made by government that putting all the ag related CRI’s into one organisation will be in the interests of NZ, but no details about the cost of the benefits of the merger have been made public. These will apparently be ‘worked through’ as part of the transition planning.
The concept of a mega ag science institution sounds enticing, but the question remains, is big best? Will the new conglomerate deliver better science and be agile to change, or end up being another unwieldy bureaucratic conglomerate with a new logo? Size is not a guarantee of performance!
Former politician Steven Joyce noted in a newspaper article: “It’s a pity that the emphasis appears to be more on structure than delivery” and that “the merger is likely to be costly, distracting and achieve little” and has the hallmarks of rearranging the deckchairs in the science system.
Surprising to many is that the main gatekeeper of science funding, the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), wasn’t reviewed in tandem with the CRI’s. To leave them out of this review is questionable. Scientists have long complained that the biggest problem they face is dealing with MBIE’s complex ‘bureaucratic nightmare’ system to get bids for funding accepted.
There is talk of a review of MBIE and a proposal to create new science ministry. We had one of those in 1990’s and early 2000’s. So, is it back to square one again?
Finally, and most importantly, will there be more money for science in the future, and will there be better communication of science as the result of the report? Don’t hold your breath!
Peter Burke is the founder of the Science Communicators Association of NZ
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.