Thriving Southland has published a discussion paper exploring the future of precision fermentation in New Zealand.
Thriving Southland is a community-led group that brings communities and farmer-led catchment groups together.
The discussion paper, Understanding Precision Fermentation, was developed in response to growing interest from the Southland farming community.
“We’ve heard from farmers and stakeholders who want to know more about precision fermentation,” said project lead at Thriving Southland Richard Kyte.
“Precision fermentation is a technology that could significantly impact New Zealand’s food production, particularly in the dairy sector. The discussion paper provides an accessible introduction to the technology, presents a range of stakeholder views, and directs readers to further detailed studies.”
The paper emphasises that while the future impacts of precision fermentation remain uncertain, the time to start thinking about potential disruptions and opportunities is now.
Anna Crosbie, the paper’s author, said that the dairy sector “is a cornerstone of Southland’s economy, contributing significantly to employment and regional output. With precision fermentation being widely regarded as the alternative protein technology most likely to impact New Zealand first, we wanted to help farmers access recent research and better understand how precision fermentation might impact us in the future.”
The paper says the dairy sector is an important land use in Southland, covering over 220,000 hectares, and a key contributor to the regional economy, with one in five jobs in Southland in the sector.
Southland produces approximately 12% of New Zealand’s dairy output – approximately 265 million kilograms of milk solids per year – and is home to over half a million dairy cows, spread across more than 980 herds.
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