ag research new zealand

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Leading agri-based science innovation

E ārahi ana i te aronga hou o te ao pūtaiao ahuwhenua.

Our Purpose

AgResearch's purpose is very simple - to enhance the value, productivity and profitability of Aotearoa New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sectors.

We aim to contribute to the economic growth of the country and help achieve positive environmental and social outcomes.

We do this by utilising our diverse science capability - from farm systems to climate change mitigation and adaptation, to pest control and high value foods.

We encourage you to read more about AgResearch and engage with us.

Our Science

Ngā Kai me ngā Hua Koiora

Food and bioproducts.

The science behind added value foods as well as ingredients and bio-alternatives that fully maximise the use and profitability of agricultur

Ngā Tipu me ngā Kararehe

Plants and animals.

Science to support fit-for-purpose plants and animals, insuring profitability, sustainability, and wellbeing.

Te Huringa Āhuarangi

Climate change.

Science that increases the resilience of food producing systems under a changing climate.

Ngā Pūnaha Ahuwhenua Toitū

Sustainable farming systems.

Science to improve the performance of agricultural systems in response to changing environmental, cultural, societal, and economic demands.

Te Rangahau Aro-Māori

Kaupapa māori.

Mātauranga Māori and science woven together for te taiao and Māori communities to thrive.

Ngā Kaupapa Whakaumu

Transformational initiatives.

Science that helps the world transition to new, more efficient, productive and safer agri-food systems.

Latest Work

Big developments in food fermentation

Sheep milk: Science supporting industry growth

Sensory and consumer perception

Better microbes, better calves

AgResearch is providing a better understanding of the complexities of the digestive tract of ruminants.

Sensing the future of dairy farming

Within our SSIF-funded, New Zealand Bioeconomy in a Digital Age (NZBIDA) programme we are researching the future of dairy farming.

Invasive beetle crisis in Solomon Islands

AgResearch scientists were part of an NZ MFAT funded project to assist the Solomon Islanders to find a solution to an invasive beetle.

Pasture-fed livestock production and products: Science behind the narrative

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the science evidence behind "grass-fed" livestock production.

Growing Tagasaste in New Zealand

This handbook has been produced for farmers and others who grow, or want to grow and learn about tagasaste.

Explore Our Site

Empowering our agricultural sector.

Our initiatives all work towards progressing Aotearoa New Zealand’s agricultural sector. AgResearch has a deep track record of successful commercial and science-based partnerships. A core focus of AgResearch is to make a significant difference by valuing Mātauranga Māori as a knowledge system that is just as important as others, respecting the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and partnering closely with Māori agribusiness and communities.

Commercialisation

Our Partners

Partnering with Us

Our facilities

Mātauranga Māori

Māori Partnerships

Agricultural research expertise.

Our team’s expertise spans areas like plant systems, food and bioproducts, and sustainable farming systems. We understand that every part of the agricultural ecosystem presents challenges and opportunities from preserving the quality and nutrients in our soil through realising a circular bioeconomy to the health and management of sheep and cattle.

Bioproducts

Circular Bioeconomy

Latest News

Scratching below the surface

New Tech Boosts Hide Processing Efficiency

Our new Research Priorities

Opportunities with gene tech to be showcased

Get in touch with our team.

Send an email to one of our team or  check out our facilities  located across Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Agresearch limited.

AgResearch's purpose is to enhance the value, productivity and profitability of Aotearoa New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sectors. Our research focuses on:

• food and bioproducts
• fit-for-purpose plants and animals
• resilience of food production under a changing climate
• sustainable farming systems
• weaving together mātauranga Māori and science
• transitioning to more efficient, productive, safer agrifood systems.

Sue Bidrose

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Dr Paul Reynolds, QSO

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Last updated 27 September 2023

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Date printed 03 June 2024

AgResearch’s new research laboratories are fully open and operational

The milestone and consolidation of all AgResearch Lincoln-based scientists under one roof at Tuhiraki is a strategic move to foster an environment of innovation.

The 3928m 2  laboratory facility, located adjacent to the Lincoln University campus, is a nationally significant asset in terms of size, scale and technology, according AgResearch’s Chief Scientist, Dr Axel Heiser.

“Tuhiraki contains state-of-the-art laboratories, including Physical Containment level 2 (PC2) capabilities.

“Bringing our Lincoln-based researchers together in this incredible facility not only enhances our capacity for world-leading agricultural research but also strengthens the spirit of collaboration that is vital for scientific breakthroughs.”

Some of the lab tech is impressive.

In plant growth rooms, researchers  can, for example simulate a solar day, using the latest programmable lighting technology. In the PC2 labs, researchers can work on viruses used in biocontrol programmes, GMOs, and complete DNA extraction, while in non-PC2 laboratories they can use formulation and fermentation tools, drying ovens, grinding rooms, or rooms to conduct sensory skin tests.

Several rooms are equipped with mass spectrometers, and the facility has its own industrial scale nitrogen generation plant, independent reverse osmosis water supply and storage, negative and positive pressure zones, gown-in and gown-out areas, and rooms to process soil and other samples. The laboratories are designed to be highly flexible, with the ability to change their usage with minimal effort or disruption to work.

Dr Heiser said the facilities enable our researchers to push the boundaries of what’s possible in agricultural science.

“These state-of-the-art facilities reflect our commitment to excellence and our dedication to making a positive impact on the agricultural sector through innovative research,” he said.

A key focus of Tuhiraki is to foster collaboration not only internally but also with our research partners at other Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), Universities, and elsewhere. This collaborative approach is fundamental to driving forward the research agenda and addressing the complex challenges facing the agricultural sector.

“The opportunities for co-development and service delivery that Tuhiraki enables are unparalleled. We are excited about the potential for collaborative projects that can emerge from this synergy,” Dr Heiser said .

“We are committed to working closely with our partners and stakeholders to leverage the capabilities of Tuhiraki for the benefit of the agricultural industry and beyond. This facility is not just a building; it’s a beacon for collaborative agricultural science.”

Source:  AgResearch

Author: Bob Edlin

Editor of AgScience Magazine and Editor of the AgScience Blog View all posts by Bob Edlin

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AgResearch Releases Pasture Biotechnology Update in New Zealand

HME Ryegrass being grown and studied in containment.

( November 20, 2023 ) - AgResearch is working with partners to use genetic modification and gene editing technologies to enhance pasture that forms the foundation of our livestock farming industries in New Zealand.

Gene editing and genetic modification technologies can be used to change the DNA of a living organism, such as a plant or animal, through either inserting, replacing, or deleting genetic material.

Opportunities from these technologies include greater farm productivity, better animal health and improved environmental results that may include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less nitrogen loss that has the potential to contaminate waterways. Work is underway to understand the potential benefits of these technologies and to ensure that those benefits outweigh any potential risks.

In this newsletter, we provide the first in a series of six monthly updates on the progress of three pasture programs that are currently underway; either indoors in containment in New Zealand or in field trials offshore.

Gene edited endophytes

The addition of selected fungi called Epichloë endophytes to ryegrass has saved New Zealand billions of dollars over the past 30 years, and now gene editing technology could provide even greater benefits through targeted changes to these endophytes.

AgResearch scientists, with partners PGG Wrightson Seeds and Grasslanz Technology, supported by funding from the government, have been researching how the use of gene editing tools to change the DNA of endophytes might generate further gains on top of the considerable progress achieved to date by conventional selection.

To provide context, one non-edited commercialized endophyte alone, AR37, has been estimated to contribute $3.6 billion to the economy through the life of its patent.

These naturally occurring endophytes live inside ryegrass and form a mutually beneficial relationship with the grass. Natural substances released by the endophytes deter insect pests from eating the ryegrass and improve plant growth and persistence, which collectively results in a reduced need for chemical pesticides and increases efficiencies in milk and meat production for New Zealand’s pasture-based agricultural industries.

The challenge has always been that some endophytes that protect ryegrass against pests also produce toxins that can be harmful to the livestock which feed on the ryegrass, causing heat stress or a disease called ryegrass staggers. Over the past few decades scientists and the seed industries have successfully harnessed selected endophytes to add to ryegrass that have brought this billion-dollar benefit, but efforts have continued to identify other endophytes that may further maximize the benefits and minimize the negative effects.

AgResearch scientists have now identified targeted changes to the DNA of selected endophytes via gene editing, resulting in either greater plant protection or less harm to livestock.

Without intervention, the toxic effect of compounds from some endophytes for livestock is expected to worsen as a result of climate change.

The gene editing of organisms is tightly regulated in New Zealand, and to date has only been undertaken in specialized containment facilities. Specific approval is required for field testing in the open or the release of gene edited organisms.

Accordingly, AgResearch and its partners have launched field trials in Australia, where ryegrass containing these gene edited endophyte strains is being tested in the open.

Seed is first being produced in Victoria to allow three sets of field trials to be planted in spring 2024 in both Victoria and New South Wales. These agronomy trials will be evaluated over a period of three years. The trials will be in locations where the ryegrass is likely to come under pressure from insect pests that is similar to New Zealand conditions.

The aim of these Australian trials is to gather data to ascertain the value and effectiveness of these gene edited endophytes ahead of a potential application to field test the ryegrass containing gene edited endophytes in New Zealand.

Research is also continuing in containment in New Zealand to further understand the potential and effects of the gene editing.

Beyond the potential to reduce harm to animals while deterring pests with less chemical use, and adding to the resilience of the ryegrass, it is thought that gene editing could also add to the persistence of the ryegrass, meaning less resowing of pastures and improved sustainability.

Additional potential environmental benefits will also continue to be explored.

High Metabolisable Energy (HME) Ryegrass

A modified ryegrass that could reduce environmental impacts while boosting animal nutrition and farm productivity is expected to be fed to livestock for the first time next year to obtain an initial gauge of potential benefits.

AgResearch scientists have been working over many years with the support of the government and commercial partners Grasslanz Technology, PGG Wrightson Seeds and DairyNZ, to develop the High Metabolisable Energy (HME) ryegrass.

This is being done by adding and modifying two plant genes to increase lipid content in the leaf and enhance photosynthesis in the plant under some conditions.

The purpose is to increase the nutritional quality of ryegrass to drive greater productivity, but the research also suggests environmental benefits such as reduced nitrogen loss that can contribute to waterway contamination, and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide.

Current research suggests that methane reductions of 10 to 15 per cent may be achievable but the animal feeding trials are still to be undertaken to definitively test this.

For nitrous oxide, the opportunity is the improved animal nutrition leading directly to a reduction in urinary nitrogen excretion, resulting in reduced emissions and lower nitrate leaching; as well as the potential for reductions due to the HME plants influencing composition of the soil microbes leading to benefits in the nitrogen cycle.

Growing of HME Ryegrass and the required research has taken place indoors in contained conditions in New Zealand, according to regulations in place around genetically modified organisms. However, it has also been grown in regulated outdoor growing trials in the United States.

Planning is now underway for a trial that is expected to start late next year, in which lambs will be fed both the HME ryegrass and a control ryegrass. To enable this, work is now underway to grow enough of the ryegrass in contained glasshouses in New Zealand that can be ensiled (preserved) for feeding to the lambs when the trial begins.

Scientists expect the trial to provide insights on methane emissions and urinary nitrogen excretion. Further confirmation in cattle will need to be performed in outdoor trials, most likely in Australia at a later date.

The program team earlier this year applied to Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) for permission to conduct growing trials in Australia.

Through the course of the application process with OGTR, it emerged that additional detailed analysis would be required on a specific issue for the application to proceed and be successful. The issue relates to an allergen (known as sesame oleosin) that may be present and could be released in the pollen of the ryegrass.

While AgResearch testing demonstrated that sesame oleosin is not expressed in the pollen of HME Ryegrass, a more rigorous test was required by OGTR. Given the timeframe and complexity associated with this more detailed test, the team reached the view that the best course was to withdraw the application to the OGTR and resubmit at a later stage.

The intention is to further reduce any future risk by replacing the sesame oleosin with an alternative that has no known allergenic properties.

The scientists are currently working on refining the composition of the ryegrass, based on a rice component rather than sesame, to support a further application for field trials and potential commercialization of the ryegrass in Australia.

Results from the feeding trial commencing next year will guide next steps for the development of the HME Ryegrass program and inform the potential for future commercialization.

High Condensed Tannin White Clover

High Condensed Tannin (HiCT) white clover has been modified to boost the level of condensed tannins present.

Condensed tannins occur naturally in the flowers of white clover and in other species such as grapes, tea and many other components of the human diet.

In white clover they offer significant promise for reducing environment impacts from livestock farming while improving both animal health and production.

AgResearch scientists are working with partners PGG Wrightson Seeds and Grasslanz Technology to genetically modify white clover — an important component of pastures in New Zealand — with a gene taken from another species of clover to enable expression of condensed tannins in the leaves of the white clover.

The modification made by the scientists essentially flicks a “molecular master switch” which increases the condensed tannins content to meaningful levels in white clover leaves.

The results seen to date in containment in New Zealand suggest reductions in methane emissions; and nitrogen leaching, in excess of 15 per cent are potentially achievable.

Consumption of the white clover with increased condensed tannins is also expected to reduce the occurrence of a condition known as bloat that can be fatal for both sheep and cattle. It may also reduce the internal parasite burden for livestock.

In addition to the modified white clover bred and grown in contained conditions in New Zealand, three years of field trials have been completed in the United States where regulations controlling the testing of genetically modified plants differ to those in New Zealand.

The levels of condensed tannins expressed in the HiCT white clover grown in USA was consistent with what was seen in the plants grown in containment in New Zealand.

Subsequent cycles of breeding and growing in containment in New Zealand have demonstrated that modified HiCT white clover with commercially acceptable yield and persistence can be generated.

Permission has now been granted for further field trials in Victoria, Australia, for a period for up to four years, and the first field trial was recently planted.

Further steps will see selection of plants for seed multiplication in Australia, as the partners look ahead to animal feeding trials and the potential for commercialization of the HiCT white clover in the next few years.

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• You are currently on: AgResearch

Our collaboration with AgResearch is an initiative using New Zealand’s biomedical and biological research skills to maximum advantage.

At the Pastoral Foods for Human Health Research Centre, our scientists collaborate with New Zealand Crown Research Institute AgResearch on studies that are applicable to the health and development of both humans and farm animals.

The team is exploring fundamental aspects of mammalian biology, such as the way the environment during early development determines how nutrients will be partitioned between growth and energy production throughout life.

Improving our knowledge of these early life processes will give us the capacity to manipulate certain parameters, such as nutrition during pregnancy, and influence the activity settings of the genes that children and animals are born with.

Scientists in the Centre work to develop better animal feeds, animal welfare products and practices, and smart ways of handling and processing food products.

The ultimate goal is to commercialise resulting research data, developing a range of pastoral-based foods with human health benefits that support local industry and enhance economic returns.

Partner organisation

AgResearch is New Zealand’s largest Crown Research Institute. It conducts research and development for the pastoral sector.

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AgResearch's science platforms

AgResearch receives $44.4 million per year for 2 science platforms – Agri-food production and Premium agri-foods.

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Mbie funding details.

In 2017, AgResearch’s total annual Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF)  funding was $38.4 million per year. In 2018, AgResearch received a further $10 million over 2 years to their SSIF funding to support research into digital technologies to inform land use decisions (New Zealand’s Bioeconomy in a Digital Age).  In 2020, AgResearch received a further $6 million per year of funding taking the annual SSIF investment to $44.4 million per year.

About the research

Agri-food production (receiving $32.4 million of AgResearch’s annual SSIF funding) is an integrated platform of farm biome genomics, biosecurity, and decision-centric farm systems for sustainable livestock production e.g., genomics for improving performance while reducing emissions to the environment; supporting uptake of new practices and technologies.

Premium agri-foods (receiving $12 million of AgResearch’s annual SSIF funding) combines food science, material science and food safety science to create high-value milk, meat and bio-based products that include food safety systems; innovative meat, wool and dairy products; and adding value to current co-products.

Below are the public statements from our contract with AgResearch.

Read the contract public statement from 2018

Agri-Food Production [$31.37 million per year excl. GST]

An integrated Platform of farm biome genomics, biosecurity and decision-centric farm systems for sustainable livestock production. Eg. Genomics for improving performance whilst reducing emissions to the environment; supporting uptake of new practices and technologies.

This Platform will contribute to 2 impact areas: enhancing the performance of forages and animals (about $19 million); and growing the sustainable productivity/profitability of farm systems within environmental limits (about $7 million).

The research in this Platform will inform the design and adoption of future farm systems, including those of Māori agribusinesses, and identify opportunities to improve farm systems through use of digital and disruptive technologies, on-farm efficiencies and performance gains, protection from pest incursions and building resilient farm systems to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Premium Agri-Foods [$12.05 million per year excl GST]

Combining food science, material science, food safety science to create high-value milk, meat and bio-based products. Eg. Food safety systems; innovative meat, wool and dairy products; adding value to current co-products.

This Platform will contribute to 2 impact areas: high-value agri-foods with proven functionality, that are safe (about $8 million); and high value wool-based products with proven functionality, sustainable and ethical credentials (about $2 million).

This Platform will provide technologies and knowhow to add value to our agri-foods and co-products, particularly through differentiation and validated functional benefits to the consumer. It will also help ensure consistency and consumer acceptance of agri-product processing, improving product quality, safety and assurance.

New Zealand’s Bioeconomy in the Digital Age Initiative

A 2 year digital agriculture initiative New Zealand’s Bioeconomy in the Digital Age contributes to both platforms; aiming to harness the power of digital technologies to enable the transformation of New Zealand food systems. This initiative will deliver a proof of concept to help transition our existing pastoral sector to an agile, adaptative and sustainable ‘bioeconomy’ future, involving emerging, aligned and new sectors.

This initiative is testing the hypothesis that digital technologies are vastly more effective in addressing difficult problems than reductionist approaches. The initiative will contribute to delivery of transformed production landscapes, food and rural enterprises, value webs agriculture innovation systems and means of conducting science.

As well as our individual sector impact strategies, SSIF will contribute to increasing cross-sector impact through extensive engagement with our stakeholders and to meeting the goals of government including the Business Growth Agenda, National Policy Statement for Fresh Water Management, and Government’s Primary Sector Science and Conservation and Environment Science Roadmaps (combined about $2.5 million). In addition SSIF will support activities with a focus on achieving effective adoption and practice change.

For further information on AgResearch’s SSIF investment contact Dr Glyn Francis, [email protected]

Read the contract public statement from 2017

Agri-food production ($26 million per year)

An integrated Platform of farm biome genomics, biosecurity and decision-centric farm systems for sustainable livestock production. For example, Genomics for improving performance whilst reducing emissions to the environment; supporting uptake of new practices and technologies.

Premium agri-foods ($12.5 million per year)

Combining food science, material science, food safety science to create high-value milk, meat and bio-based products. For example, food safety systems; innovative meat, wool and dairy products; adding value to current co-products.

As well as our individual sector impact strategies, SSIF will contribute to increasing cross-sector impact through extensive engagement with our stakeholders and to meeting the goals of Government including the Business Growth Agenda, National Policy Statement for Fresh Water Management, and Government’s Primary Sector Science and Conservation and Environment Science Roadmaps (combined about $2.5 million). In addition SSIF will support activities with a focus on achieving effective adoption and practice change.

Annual updates

Recipients of SSIF funding are required to report yearly on the progress of their work programme. Below are the public updates from AgResearch’s annual reports.

Note that differences between the contract platform funding amounts and the annual amounts (as noted in public statements) are due to the variability within research programmes.

Read the public update from the 2022/2023 annual report

Tā Mātou Rautaki is AgResearch’s strategy to achieve our long-term aim of leading agri-based science innovation. The strategy also allows for change, accepting that the research landscape and Government priorities will change and evolve.  We have 4 areas of focus to create a thriving culture and generate meaningful and enduring impact:

• Science Excellence: Strengthening connections with science vitality and science excellence
• Partnerships: Fostering strong collaboration, including partnerships
• Mātauranga Māori: Fully embedding Te Ao Māori within our ways of thinking and working
• Smart Investments: Ensuring that we invest appropriately in a talented workforce, fit-for-purpose infrastructure, resources and processes, using SSIF to invest in core capabilities and areas of strategic priority for New Zealand.

Agri-Food Production platform

With $25.3 million allocated to this platform in FY23, using digital and disruptive technologies, we have informed the design, adoption, and improvement of farm systems, and tackling of climate change impacts, with our stakeholders, particularly our Māori agribusinesses. Continued areas of focus include animal health and welfare, as well as reducing reliance on chemicals for managing pests and weeds. New areas of exploration include comparative methylome analysis of Epichloë; designing next-generation water quality assessment tools, and using hyperspectral imaging to detect concealed vertebrates.  

Key achievements in FY23 for this platform include:

• Creation of a Cyclone Response Advisory Group to coordinate and support our response to requests for assistance from those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.  
• Support of our ECG to facilitate networking within and across campuses, and externally with other research organisations.
• Development of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) models for dairy, beef and sheep farming.

Premium agri-foods, services and products platform

The $18.9 million allocated to this platform in FY23 provided technologies and knowledge transfer to increase the productivity, efficiency, consistency, and consumer acceptance of agri-product processing, improving product quality, safety and assurance. AgResearch continues to add value to the primary processing sector, developing world-class agri-foods, and sustainable, ethical consumer products with proven functionality, and investing in the exploration of high-value agri-foods with proven functionality and safety. We also continue to explore opportunities with our Māori agribusiness partners.

Key achievements in FY23 for the platform include:

• Discovery of antimicrobial metabolites effective against Pithomyces chartarum, the fungus responsible for facial eczema in animals.
• Understanding the potential of dual light technology for destruction of pathogenic bacteria.

Case studies including selected SSIF-funded projects are published in the 2023 AgResearch Annual Report, available at  www.agresearch.co.nz (external link) .

Read the public update from the 2021/2022 annual report

The $17.4 million allocated to this platform in FY22 provided technologies and knowledge transfer to increase the productivity, efficiency, consistency, and consumer acceptance of agri-product processing, improving product quality, safety and assurance. AgResearch continued to add value to the primary processing sector, by developing world-class agri-foods, and sustainable, ethical consumer products with proven functionality, and investing in the exploration of high-value agri-foods with proven functionality and safety. We also explored alternative biobased materials, increased collaborations and broadened our capability in the human microbiome space, and customised food attributes as part of our consumer interface.

Key achievements in FY22 for the platform include:

• Development of an artificial intelligence (AI) driven solution to predict flavour with direct applicability to the food and food service industries. Metabolomics analyses of kawakawa leaves show that predation by different insects leads to different metabolite profiles in the leaves. 
• ’Super forecasting’ and design-led solutions for diverse pasture based feedstocks.

Case studies including some of selected SSIF-funded projects are published in the 2022 AgResearch Annual Report, available at www.agresearch.co.nz.

Agri-Food Production platform 

With $26.9 million allocated to this platform  in FY22, using digital and disruption technologies, we have informed the design, adoption, and improvement of farm systems, and tackling of climate change impacts, with our stakeholders, particularly our Māori agribusinesses. Continued areas of focus include: growing sustainable productivity/profitability of farm systems, and enhancing the performance of forages and animals. New areas of exploration include: non-invasive animal physiology technologies; science, collaborations, and digital responses to climate change; emerging research opportunities for regenerative agriculture; and land management decision-making tools.

• Whole genome sequencing by AgR has been an important part of detecting and controlling a bovine TB outbreak in Hawkes Bay.
• Development of an innovative inhouse bioactive discovery that has identified Epichloë compounds with novel mammalian toxicity and/or insect bioactivity.

Case studies including some of selected SSIF-funded projects are published in the 2022 AgResearch Annual Report, available at  www.agresearch.co.nz (external link) .

More information

Learn more about AgResearch (external link) .  — AgResearch website

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Nau mai, haere mai, welcome to Beyond Results .

The New Zealand agri-food sector, and society in general, is responding to complex societal and environmental challenges such as climate change and food sovereignty. These challenges cannot be remedied by one solution or technology alone – instead multiple organisations and individuals, involved in big picture strategy, practical food production, and everything in between, need to collaborate to discover and implement solutions together.

Beyond Results is AgResearch's response to providing ‘how to’ for planning and delivering research that delivers impact and addresses complex challenges.

When we first built Beyond Results we started by asking: how can we achieve better impact from our research for those who use it?

We developed tools and approaches for that question, including key  success principles  for impact. In our organisation, many of these initial tools for impact have now become used routinely in the design and development of our research.

Alongside our work on impact, we also researched what a co-innovation approach for New Zealand could look like. In Primary Innovation , we outline what this research programme involved and the main findings. 

We are now looking to new horizons, and have developed a toolkit for designing and delivering transformative and transdisciplinary research programmes. The T-Platform Toolkit includes tools and approaches that we have used and adapted for the New Zealand and AgResearch context.

This work is being done as part of the  T-Platform , a programme to support capacity for transformative and transdisciplinary research amongst AgResearch researchers and our partners.

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Lincoln Campus

AgResearch's Lincoln campus is situated 15km southwest of Christchurch and its research focuses on biocontrol and biosecurity, plant breeding and seed technology, wool and skin biology, and animal fibres and textiles.

An Agronomy Division was first created by the DSIR at Lincoln in 1936, to research oats, peas, Lucerne, potatoes, and other arable crops.  The Wheat Research Institute was added to the Agronomy Division in 1948.  In 1937, DSIR established the New Zealand Wool Manufacturers' Research Association which had a further name change to the New Zealand Woollen Mills Research Association in 1945 and again in 1956 to the New Zealand Wool Industries Research Institute.

When DSIR was disbanded in 1992, Government research departments were formed into ten Crown Research Institutes (CRI) (later to be reduced to eight).  The Lincoln campus was transferred to AgResearch Limited.

The Christchurch earthquake of 2011 caused significant damage to the campus and the adjacent Lincoln University.  A re-building and modernisation programme is underway.

Lincoln - trial area 1948

Dr Phil Roloston and the Honourable Bob Tizard

Department of Agriculture (Research Division) research centres, stations, and areas

Scientists and marketers promote New Zealand seeds in Australia

Red clover strains

Testing of wheat

View the latest institution tables

View the latest country/territory tables

AgResearch, New Zealand

The positions in the table below reflect the AgResearch's position overall, domestically, within their sector, and in various subject areas based on their Share. Each position links to the corresponding table where AgResearch is listed.

Position by research output Share

Position by research output share in subject areas, overall research output.

Overall Count and Share for 'AgResearch' based on the 12-month time frame mentioned above.

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Research outputs by subject area

Note: Articles may be assigned to more than one subject area. Hover over the donut graph to view the Share for each subject.

Share output for the past 5 years

• Biological sciences
• Earth & environmental sciences
• Health sciences
• Physical sciences
• Natural sciences
• Nature & Science

Institution benchmarking

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Collaboration

International vs domestic collaboration by share.

Note: Hover over the graph to view the percentage of collaboration.

Top 5 domestic collaborators with AgResearch by Share

Collaborating institutions

Top 5 international collaborators with AgResearch by Share

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Relationships

• Animal Science Group, AgResearch

Affiliated joint institutions and consortia

• Bio-Protection Research Centre (BPRC)
• Hopkirk Research Institute
• Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery
• National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease (NCBID)
• National Centre for Growth and Development (GRAVIDA)
• New Zealand Life Cycle Management Centre (NZLCM)
• Riddet Institute

• Pets travelling to NZ
• Bringing and posting items to NZ
• Clearance of personal goods and mail to NZ
• Arriving in NZ in your own boat or aircraft
• Pets leaving NZ
• Taking food overseas
• Sending food overseas from NZ
• Taking home your trophy or hide from NZ
• Boating and watersports tips to prevent spread of pests
• Recreational fishing
• Gardening: finding and reporting pests
• Holding an outdoor event: tips to prevent spread of pests
• Hunting and gathering: biosecurity and food safety
• Tramping tips to prevent spreading pests and diseases
• Visiting Waiuku Forest
• Learn more about biosecurity
• About New Zealand Food Safety
• Food recalls and complaints
• Food and pregnancy
• Safe food for babies
• Food allergies and intolerances
• Food for people with low immunity
• How to read food labels
• How Health Star Ratings work
• Food additives and preservatives
• Nutrients added to food
• Preparing and storing food safely at home
• Food safety tips for fishing, hunting, and homekill
• What is organic food?
• Is it safe to eat?
• Safe levels of chemicals in food
• Food poisoning: symptoms and causes
• Fundraising, community, and social event food safety
• Food safety tips when you're sick
• Food safety in natural disasters and emergencies
• Food safety resources
• Reducing food waste at home
• Food safety rules
• Starting a food business
• Running a food business
• Food safety toolkit
• Food recalls
• Labelling and composition of food and drinks
• Regulators and verifiers
• Food safety registers and lists
• Food safety legislation
• Importing food and beverages
• Exporting food and beverages
• Dairy products processing, manufacture, and testing requirements
• Bakery and grain-based products
• Honey and bee products processing requirements
• Meat and game processing requirements
• Seafood processing, storage, and testing
• Winemaking standards, requirements, and testing
• Poultry and egg processing requirements
• Transport, wharf, and cold and dry store operator food safety
• Maintenance and cleaning products in animal product processing
• Food safety and suitability research
• Food monitoring and surveillance
• Food safety codes and standards
• Food safety insights, emerging risks, and current issues bulletin
• World Food Safety Day
• Exporting from NZ: how it works
• Meeting NZ standards for export
• Export requirements
• Register as an exporter
• Exporting animal food
• Exporting wool, hides, trophies, and rendered animal products
• Exporting live animals
• Exporting grains and seeds for sowing
• Exporting live plants and laboratory plant products
• Exporting agricultural compounds
• Exporting timber and wood products
• Exporting veterinary medicines
• E-commerce: selling goods online to customers overseas
• Importing into NZ: how it works
• Border clearance: aircraft, boats, arrival, and clearance facilities
• Household goods and personal effects importing to NZ
• Importing food
• Importing timber and wood products
• Importing biological products and organisms
• Importing agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines (ACVM)
• Importing live animals
• Importing animal food
• Importing fibre, skins, and trophies
• Importing plants, flowers, seeds, and plant-growing products
• Importing inorganics and waste
• Importing vehicles, machinery, and parts
• Importing research samples (excluding animal samples)
• Importing soil, organic fertilisers and growing media of plant origin
• About biosecurity in New Zealand
• Pests and diseases not in New Zealand
• Find, report, and prevent pests and diseases
• Biosecurity at New Zealand's border
• Exotic pests and diseases in New Zealand
• Mycoplasma bovis disease eradication programme
• Biosecurity and your pets
• Animal welfare
• National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) programme
• Foot-and-mouth disease response plans
• Veterinary medicines and the ACVM Act 1997
• Growth hormones
• Pet food, animal feed, and nutritional supplements
• Animal feed: preventing disease transfer
• Vertebrate toxic agents: making, selling, and using
• Slaughtering requirements
• Dropped hock syndrome
• Protecting pet rabbits from caliciviruses
• Adverse events
• Māori agribusiness funding and support
• Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures
• Primary Growth Partnership (PGP)
• Fishing and aquaculture funding and support
• Environment and natural resources: funding and programmes
• Funding programmes for tree planting and research
• Farming funds and programmes
• Future workforce skills for the primary industries
• Sustainable Regions funds and programmes
• Rural Community Hubs
• Mental wellbeing fund for rural communities
• Rural proofing: guidance for policymakers
• Wood Processing Growth Fund
• Jobs for Nature
• On Farm Support: a service for farmers and growers
• Agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines (ACVM)
• FarmsOnLine
• Plant products requirements and pesticide levels
• Dairy farming
• Poultry and eggs requirements
• Winemaking, standards, requirements, and testing
• Beekeeping: loss survey, tutin contamination, regulations
• Organic product requirements in NZ
• Farm management, the environment, and land use
• Commercial fishing
• Māori customary fishing
• Fisheries management
• Sustainable fisheries
• Aquaculture (fish and shellfish farming)
• Fisheries science and research
• Getting started in forestry
• New Zealand's forests
• National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry
• Funding for tree planting and research
• Native (indigenous) forests
• Forest industry and workforce
• Forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme
• Protecting forests from summer wildfires
• Forest science and research
• Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service
• For individuals Mā te takitahi
• Bring or send to NZ
• Take or send from NZ
• Outdoor activities
• Food safety at home
• For businesses Mā ngā pakihi
• Food business
• Biosecurity
• Funding and rural support
• Agriculture
• Fishing and aquaculture

Science for Farmers site at Fieldays 2024

Science for Farmers is a new site at National Fieldays 2024. It will showcase how science and innovation can be used effectively on-farm. Learn more about the site.

Connecting farmers with science

We’ve created a site to connect farmers and growers with science and innovation that can make a difference on-farm. It will debut at National Fieldays 2024 at site F29 on F Street.

The aim of the site is to showcase how science can help farmers and growers become even more efficient and adapt to change.

Fieldays 2024 is being held at Mystery Creek, Hamilton, between 12 and 15 June.

Visit the Fieldays website

Interactive modules

A key feature of Science for Farmers will be interactive modules focusing on 3 core areas:

• research and investment for the future.

You’ll be able to get more information and resources about practical actions you can take now to:

• boost on-farm profitability
• reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
• protect the environment.

Importantly, the site will highlight tools and technology being developed to help in the future.

Come chat agri with us at the Science for Farmers site

An important feature of the site will be free daily presentations from industry experts.

The presentations aim to bridge the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and how it can be applied in a practical way on-farm.

Chat agri sessions

All presentations will be held at the Science for Farmers site (F29).

Wednesday 12 June

10.15am:  Science For Farmers site opening.

12pm: Overview of S-map Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research .

2pm:  The new name powering zero emissions agriculture  AgriZeroNZ .

3pm:  Finding the silver buckshot NZAGRC .

Thursday 13 June

10am:  The holy grail methane vaccine – can we get there? AgriZeroNZ and NZAGRC .

12pm:  Breeding for the future AgResearch .

2pm: How can you reduce your farm emissions? MPI .

4pm: Ag Matters NZ NZAGRC and AgFirst NZ .

Friday 14 June

10am:  Whenua Haumanu: persistent pastures Massey University .

12pm:  Soil carbon: risks and opportunities Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research .

2pm: Breeding climate friendly cows LIC and   NZAGRC .

Saturday 15 June

12pm: Moving the middle Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research .

Full details about each session and who will be speaking are in our schedule.

2024 Fieldays Science for Farmers engagement schedule [PDF, 310 KB]

Science for Farmers is a collaborative effort

The Science for Farmers site is a new collaboration between the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) On Farm Support service and research partners.

The initiative aims to better connect scientists and researchers with farmers and growers on-the-ground.

Site partners are:

• Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
• Massey University
• New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC)
• On Farm Support (MPI).

About On Farm Support

The On Farm Support team provides on-the-ground help for farmers and growers.

Freephone: 0800 70 71 33

Email: [email protected]

Find out more about On Farm Support

MPI business units

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