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MPI head of on-farm support John Roche at the Science for Farmers site at the Central District Field Days.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
The Science for Farmers initiative promoted by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) makes sense.
On show at recent regional field days, a special site under this banner was set up whereby farmers can meet up with scientists and discuss some of their problems, and find out what researchers have in the pipeline to deal with some of the challenges they are facing. Likewise, scientists get a heads-up on problems on the farm.
The concept of oozes common sense. Many years ago, politicians and bureaucrats disassembled the old MAF and cut the strong link between the scientists and policy makers. Remember the Ruakura Farmers Conference initiated by the great science leader, the late C.B. McMeeken?
Thousands of farmers flocked there in the 1960s and 70s to listen to men and women who dedicated their lives to finding better ways to farm. And then there were the tours of MAF farms at Ruakura and Whatawhata. Also let’s not forget the excellent horticulture field days held near Levin. All these good science communication events went with the stroke of a pen.
While NZ scrapped the link between science and farmers, 18,000km away the Irish have kept the system that we dumped and that has been hugely successful. A field day organised by the Irish science collective Teagasc, similar to our old MAF, can attract upwards of 10,000 farmers, something we never see in NZ.
It was seeing what Teagasc has done that prompted the MPI boss Ray Smith and his Irish sidekick Dr John Roche to start to improve that scientist-farmer communication by initiating Science For Farmers.
There will never be a return to the halcyon days of the 70s but what is being done is great and hopefully farmers and more science providers will embrace this excellent concept.
The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.
An initiative by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to connect farmers with scientists is taking off judging by the response at recent regional field days.
Scientists from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are part of an international team working to develop a low-cost diagnostic tool that could significantly improve food crop production in developing countries.
A company growing and processing seaweed with known methane-busting properties at a facility in Bluff is expanding internationally but New Zealand cattle farmers won't be getting the product anytime soon.
Soon farmers and working dog breeders will be able to have a dog that best suits their needs thanks to a team of researchers at Massey University.
Farmer-owned co-operative Ravensdown is winding down the operations of its agritech subsidiary C-Dax following a long decline in sales.
The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.
A Research programme supported by Beef+Lamb NZ is investigating the potential of ‘accelerometer’ sensors for early detection of conditions such as facial eczema (FE) in sheep.
In the past year, the Farmer Time for Schools programme which seeks to connect New Zealand school students with farmers, has experienced further growth.
Fresh Carriers Co. Ltd (FCC) and Zespri have completed the first ever kiwifruit charter powered by a low-emissions fuel.
New Zealand lingerie brand Rose & Thorne is expanding its virtual bra fitting service in an effort to provide rural women in with better access to specialised advice.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
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