Woolworths is buzzing with excitement this spring, celebrating the return of sunshine and seasonal favourites by creating the world’s first supermarket for bees in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

These tiny creatures are the real heroes behind most of the fresh kai (food) in supermarkets, pollinating 70% of all crops eaten by humans. 

But bee populations are facing a sticky situation worldwide due to pesticides, climate change, and habitat destruction. That’s why Woolworths is raising the profile of the humble workers by giving bees their very own bee-stro.

Woolworths New Zealand General Manager of Fruit and Vegetables, Ryan McMullen, said they’re thrilled to shine a light on the role bees play in bringing us delicious, fresh produce.

“So much of the fresh fruits and veggies we look forward to every year would not exist without bees.”

“Spring favourites like strawberries and asparagus are back in season, thanks to the tireless work of these tiny pollinators.”

“We want to encourage Kiwis and their families to get outside this spring and become more aware of these amazing creatures and the challenges they face.”

Woolworths is partnering with experts Bees Up Top and Auckland’s Ambury Farm to create the bee-friendly supermarket during the term 3 school holidays from September 28 to October 6. Instead of food, the miniature aisles will be full of bees’ favourite blooms such as lavender, mānuka, and cosmos. 

Kiwis are encouraged to buzz on over to the supermarket for bees to take part in free, immersive, and educational activities.

Woolworths is also encouraging people to think about their own homes and how they could make their gardens welcoming to bees. 

Some bee-loved plants include harakeke, hebe, and mānuka. They also have a sweet spot for rosemary, camelia and borage.

LIC is to collaborate with Scandinavian breeding co-operative VikingGenetics to improve the genetic links between New Zealand and Nordic Jersey cattle populations.  

The two breeding companies will work together on a pilot project that will bridge the genetic strengths of the two regions’ dairy industries. 

This involves exchanging sexed semen, which allows LIC and VikingGenetics to identify new bloodlines that perform well in their own dairy farming environments.  

LIC chief scientist Richard Spelman said they are deeply committed to safeguarding the future of the Jersey breed in New Zealand and worldwide.

“This forward-thinking solution will create stronger genetic connections between the Nordic and New Zealand Jersey populations and reduce the risk of inbreeding. 

“We look forward to being able to offer more genetic diversity to our New Zealand Jersey herds in the coming years.”   

 VikingGenetics is owned by more than 16,000 dairy and beef farmers in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. They focus on animal welfare, food security and reducing climate impact in the entire production chain.

VikingJersey product manager and VikingGenetics senior breeding manager Peter Larson said the collaboration is a step forward in the overall genetic landscape of the Jersey breed, offering breeders a sustainable way to enhance herd health and profitability.

The collaboration will help address concerns over inbreeding within the two populations. 

Selected cows will be inseminated with sexed semen from top genomic sires, using stringent selection criteria to achieve the best genetic results. 

All progeny will undergo comprehensive testing, verifying their parentage, data from milk recording, health registration and classification, and more. 

Between 10 and 20 bulls from each company will be enrolled in the project annually. The ultimate goal is to have the best sires forming part of future breeding schemes.

Ravensdown’s South Island shareholders have voted Kate Faulks to the Ravensdown board for a three-year term.

Ravensdown chair Bruce Wills said voting shareholders have made a prudent choice.

“The combination of Kate’s farming experience, foundational governance experience and her passion for our co-operative and the wider sector, means she is an ideal addition to the Ravensdown board. I am very much looking forward to her contribution.”

Faulks is an active farmer and director of Altavady Farm and Glenkerry Farm (part of a six-farm beef, dairy and forestry family farming group) and a member of the North Otago Sustainable Land Management Group Steering Board.

Since 2022,  Faulks has been the board intern of Port Otago and its subsidiary Chalmers Properties. She has developed insight into scale commercial governance, strategy development, working with senior management, engaging with regulatory shareholders (Otago Regional Council), and staffing and Health and Safety matters.

Faulks has a Master of Business Administration (First Class) and a Bachelor of Chemical and Process Engineering (Honours).

Wills thanked outgoing South Island director, Pete Moynihan, for his long service and commitment to the board.

Wills was the only candidate nominated for the North Island Director Area. As a result, there was no election for the North Island and Wills remains a director for a further three-year term.

In Focus Podcast | Sheep outlook: the future of our flock

Sheep farmers are doing it tough right now, with farmgate returns dropping back after a few good years and input costs rising. Add to that the march of pine trees across the land, and there’s talk of an existential crisis. Bryan asked AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad to give him the lay of the land and asked her what the sector needed to do to find prosperity again.

Ngāi Tahu Farming and PGG Wrightson saw first-hand the fruits of their continued support for IHC when members of IHC’s South Canterbury Kapa Haka rōpū performed at Kōkōmuka Lodge on Ngāi Tahu Farming’s Te Whenua Hou farm in North Canterbury.

PGW has sponsored IHC’s Calf & Rural Scheme since its inception and Ngāi Tahu Farming is a long-term calf donor. The IHC Calf & Rural Scheme has been raising money to support people with intellectual disabilities and their families in rural areas of New Zealand for 43 years.

The calf donations help IHC fund a number of community initiatives that make a big difference in people’s lives. Kapa Haka is just one of those initiatives, where people with intellectual disability can connect with their respective iwi and enjoy the excitement of being part of a performing group.

Ngāi Tahu Farming welcomed IHC’s South Canterbury Kapa Haka rōpū onto its farm, along with PGW chief executive Stephen Guerin.

“We have a long affiliation with Ngāi Tahu Farming and the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme is a crucial part of our responsibility the community,” Guerin said.

“This occasion was a wonderful way to weave together those threads and see the important impact of our support.”

Ngāi Tahu farming operations manager – dairy and assets Ben Jaunay said being a part of the IHC Calf & Rural scheme is a way for the business to express its manaakitanga values.

“Rearing calves for the scheme is a tangible way for us to give back to the community and directly support the IHC. On a personal level, it is incredibly rewarding mahi to be involved in.”

IHC national fundraising manager Greg Millar said they love having the opportunity to say thank you and to show Ngāi Tahu Farming and PGW along with thousands of dairy farmers around the country what a huge difference their support to the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme makes in rural communities.

If you’d like to make a difference in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families in rural New Zealand, you can get involved with the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme. Whether you’re a farmer looking to pledge a calf or someone who wants to donate a virtual calf, your contribution will help fund community initiatives that create meaningful connections and positive change.

A central North Island Māori trust is partnering with geothermal experts and New Zealand scientists in a world-first project to develop livestock feed from geothermal gases.

Funding of nearly $5 million from Tauhara North No 2 Trust and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will support Rotorua-based Upflow and partners to progress laboratory-scale research that has shown how two microorganisms – a bacterium and an algae – can be used together to convert carbon dioxide and methane into a protein-rich biomass.

This biomass is created when microorganisms feed off greenhouse gas emissions captured from geothermal power stations, such as those used to generate electricity in the central North Island. The biomass produced is made up of several potentially commercially valuable components, including protein for animal feed.

The four-year research project will be the first in the world to pioneer biomass feedstock production from gases and robust microorganisms that thrive in the extreme conditions found at geothermal sites.

Tauhara North No 2 Trust has significant investments in geothermal assets at the Rotokawa geothermal reservoir and is seeking more than financial outcomes. 

“Having geothermal assets in our rohe (region) gives us the opportunity to unlock potential new industries and leverage our existing knowledge to create new jobs and revenue for mana whenua and regional communities,” said Trust group chief executive Mana Newton.

Geothermal consultancy Upflow is the delivery partner for the project, providing leadership and expertise, partnering with researchers from Crown Research Institute Scion, the University of Canterbury and algae experts from Cawthron Institute.

Early-stage research looks promising. 

Industrial biotechnology processes were jointly developed by University of Canterbury researchers, Scion’s biotechnology team and Tauhara North No 2 Trust. The technology uses a methane-eating bacterium, and a carbon dioxide-eating microalgae to capture the gases and use them as a food source for growth.

This process generates a biomass rich in protein, which is being explored as an animal feed ingredient, use for human nutrition, or to produce high-value nutraceuticals or pigments. The initial focus is on the protein component to benefit New Zealand’s primary industry, while also investigating the potential for premium products.

The MPI’s investment of $2.49m in the project comes from the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. 

The MPI’s director of investment programmes Steve Penno said it is an exciting project.

 “If successful, this could be the start of a new biomass feedstock manufacturing industry for New Zealand, worth an estimated $500m per annum by 2045, creating new skilled jobs.

 “It would reduce our reliance on imported livestock feed, and decarbonise these industries, while also reducing the cost of carbon emissions for geothermal companies that adopt the system.”

 According to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, as a nation of 5 million people, New Zealand feeds an estimated 40 million people worldwide.

 “We’re looking to futureproof this legacy by providing a decarbonised food production option using Aotearoa’s abundant geothermal resources. We’re making animal feed from greenhouse gases,” said Andy Blair, director of business and innovation at Upflow.

Over the next four years, Upflow will work with researchers to progress development of the technology from its satellite office on Scion’s campus in Rotorua.

 Only small quantities of the biomass have been cultivated and tested so far from pure gases. In the next step, scientists will support Upflow to plan and build a pilot-scale facility. This will aid the transition of fermentation conditions to real geothermal gases to generate yields at pilot scale (1000 litres). 

 More work will determine markets for the biomass, including agriculture, aquaculture and the potential for human nutrition.

 Inghams Enterprises NZ is a keystone industry partner in the project, bringing insights to navigate its animal feed market spaces.

 Scion’s portfolio leader for distributed and circular manufacturing Marc Gaugler said the groundwork was a collaboration through the cultivation of specific bacterial strains at Scion and algal strains at the University of Canterbury.

 “With our research colleagues and Upflow, we look forward to seeing this novel technology contribute to regional economic development, create new value from waste and benefit the geothermal sector by helping it decarbonise.”

 Blair said the project is an example of visionary individuals and organisations taking a risk and coming together to incubate an emerging New Zealand-led scientific discovery.

 “Many great research ideas struggle to find real-world application, and to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale concept and application at scale. We’re giving this technology the time and support it needs to be shaped for commercial reality.”

It has been a bumper year for kiwifruit, with export values up 20% to $3.1 billion in the year ended August 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

That’s an increase of $524 million when compared with the year ended August 2023.

“Kiwifruit export values for the season so far are the highest they have ever been,” Stats NZ international trade manager Viki Ward said.

The kiwifruit export season is typically from March to November. Gold kiwifruit exports were $2.4bn, up $45m (24%) from the year ended August 2023. This increase was driven by an increase in quantity (up 23%).

Green kiwifruit exports were $737m, up $67m (9.9%) over the same period. The increase in green kiwifruit export values was driven by an increase in price (up 9%).

“Growers in New Zealand are increasingly planting gold, and now red, kiwifruit, to capture greater export value in markets like China and Japan,” Ward said.

The top destination for gold kiwifruit is China, while the top destination for green is the European Union.

Voting has opened for two vacant directorship positions on DairyNZ’s board.

This year, three candidates – Jacqueline Rowarth, Tirau; Richard McIntyre, Levin; and  Kylie Leonard, Taupō – are vying for the two vacant positions.  

Farmers have until noon on Thursday, October 17, to cast their votes.

Voter packs have been sent out since September 19. Dairy farmers can vote online or by post. 

This year, DairyNZ is hosting a Meet the Candidates webinar, on Friday, September 20, at 7pm, providing an opportunity to ask questions of the potential directors.

DairyNZ’s board consists of five farmer-elected directors and three board-appointed directors. This year, Jim van der Poel is retiring, and Jacqueline Rowarth is retiring by rotation and is re-standing.

Outside of the candidate vote, there are four resolutions for farmers to ratify in their vote pack, including the appointment of independent director David Hunt and changes to the rules of DairyNZ to reflect new regulatory changes and capture recent feedback from farmers.

Further details on the resolutions and proposed changes are available in the Notice of Meeting booklet in farmer voting packs and online.  

Nominations have opened to fill two vacancies on the Alliance Group board.

Jason Miller is retiring by rotation and will not be standing for re-election. There is one other vacancy following the retirement of Murray Taggart.

Chair Mark Wynne thanked Miller for his service to the board.

“Jason was elected as a supplier representative in 2015.  He was also a director on the Alliance board from 2007-2013.

“He has made a valuable contribution to the board, consistently demonstrating a deep understanding of Alliance’s values and the needs of our farmers. His experience and strategic insight have been valuable during both stable and challenging times for the company.”

Alliance is seeking directors who can demonstrate strong alignment to Alliance’s long-term vision, Wynne said.

“We are looking for individuals with a deep connection to the meat industry or agribusiness sector, excellent judgment, and strategic reasoning.

“The ideal candidates will have governance experience, or show potential in this area, along with proven problem-solving skills, commercial acumen, and an ability to think strategically for the future.

“Equally important are strong communication skills, a commitment to environmental sustainability, and the ability to connect with our customers, stakeholders, and communities, including regulatory bodies and iwi.”

Nominations must be received by the returning officer by Monday, October 7 at 3pm. The election result will be announced at Alliance Group’s annual meeting of shareholders in Gore on December 18.

The Ministry for Primary Industries is seeking research proposals to help improve New Zealand’s reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land uses.

The annual funding round for the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research (GHGIR) fund is now open, with $2.9 million of funding available for new projects in the 2024/25 financial year.

“The GHGIR focuses on improving our knowledge of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, to ensure we have the best possible data to help manage New Zealand’s emissions and inform policy decisions,” said the MPI’s director of programmes and planning, policy and trade, Stephanie Preston.

“This year we’re looking for very specific research proposals in 10 priority areas, ranging from improving liveweight estimation of sheep and beef to exploring remote sensing methods of collecting data, such as using satellite data to measure feed type and quality.

“The outcomes will inform MPI’s reporting to the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the United Nations under the Paris Climate Agreement.”

Applications close on  October 30 2024, with successful proposals expected to be announced by the end of February 2025.

China has initiated an investigation into the dairy subsidies provided by the European Union and several of its member states.

The investigation could reshape the global dairy trade landscape with increased trade tensions potentially benefitting dairy exporters from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to a new report by Rabobank.

The investigation focuses on the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and national plans of eight countries and is in response to the European Union’s decision to hike tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

However, market impacts are unlikely to be felt until at least 2026 – if at all. 

The report,  Navigating Trade Tension: Potential impacts of China’s probe into EU dairy subsidies, says the EU’s recent announcement that it will increase tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles has led to a counter-reaction.

“With the EU tariffs set to rise significantly, China’s Ministry of Commerce has launched an investigation into EU dairy subsidies that could have far-reaching consequences for European exports. 

“The targeted products, including liquid cream and various cheeses, represent a significant trade value of US$572.5 million [$917m] as of 2023,” report co-author senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins said.

While the report says the current investigation does not encompass the highest-volume categories such as whey-derived products and milk powders, there is concern within the industry that China may broaden its investigation.

“The investigation, expected to run through most of 2025, leaves the door open for potential market impacts by 2026. France, as a major exporter, could be significantly affected, given its 37% share in the targeted product exports,” Higgins said.

“Meanwhile, some dairy industry participants are concerned that China could expand the scope of investigation-targeted products.”

As the investigation unfolds, non-EU dairy exporters including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US are poised to capitalise on any resulting trade shifts.

Should there be any additional tariffs implemented, products sourced from  Oceania could be more competitively priced.

“As it stands, New Zealand and Australia already export large volumes of cheese and cream into China and would therefore be well-placed to step in and fill any trade gaps that might arise,” she said.

China’s domestic dairy industry is currently experiencing overproduction relative to demand. This has prompted a strategic shift towards value-added dairy products to better utilise the surplus and potentially reduce reliance on imports. 

“The ongoing trade tensions with the EU may inadvertently accelerate this transition, offering a silver lining for local Chinese dairy producers and exporters from other nations,” Higgins said.