Risky business
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in the process of shutting down.
Sunfed’s founder and chief executive Sukul Lee conceded that the “plant-based bubble” had burst and investors were no longer keen to support the company.
The business started in 2015 and aimed to provide ‘nonmeat alternatives’.
However, Lee admitted it had not been able to move to a position where it had a positive cashflow.
Venture Capital investors started to pull back and existing venture capital investors were no longer interested in supporting the business.
Lee also conceded that investors had jumped into a “plant-based gold rush” thinking they would see valuations increase quickly.
She said the “plant-based bubble” had now burst and the category was “undergoing a reality check”.
Who would have picked this happening?
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.