Field Notes Issue 623 Field Notes Issue 623 Field Notes Issue 623

[8^th September 2022]

This week in Aotearoa New Zealand, it’s all about nutrition. As Fonterra Co-operative group announce their new business-to-business health and wellbeing brand Nutiani; research from the Riddet Institute is also released to highlight the nutritional benefits of cow’s milk compared with plant-based alternatives, including higher nutrient and mineral content, and an average of over 300% greater protein per 100ml. After criticism of the New Zealand diet from an international activist, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth highlights the facts and figures of New Zealand food nutrition and production systems which debunk some incorrect assumptions.

In other New Zealand news, a NZD$26m seven-year study into conventional and regenerative practices in a New Zealand context has been announced from the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. New Zealand agricultural debt has started to increase again on a month-to-month basis after several years of annual decreases with Rabobank experiencing the greatest increase of the rural banks. And Southern Pastures is announced as a finalist for the World Sustainability Awards the first company from Aotearoa New Zealand to make the shortlist.

Internationally, the United States Government has provided USD$1b in emergency food security assistance to alleviate extreme hunger in a group of African countries, FAO announces that after decades of strong growth, the volume and value of international fisheries sales have decreased for the second year in a row, and AgFunder shares five emerging start-ups in Africa targeting the anticipated growth in protein demand across the continent.

Cost of Chinese ban on NZ seafood tops $6m [6 September, Newsroom]

A Sanford mussel processing facility in Havelock and Sealord finfish/fish-meal processing facility in Nelson continue to face export blocks to China 18 months after they were initiated due to Covid-19 concerns. Sealord CEO Doug Paulin commented that the situation has cost the company NZD$6m so far with no end date in sight. The ministry of primary industries is continuing discussions to reinstate trade; however, the situation was regarded as “low on China’s list of priorities”.

Tags: Fisheries, Trade & Exports, Policy & Regulation 

Two-decade research and development journey ripens into new apricot varieties [6 September, RNZ]

New apricot varieties NzSummer 2, 3, and 4 will be picked this summer following nearly two decades of research and development. The new varieties ripen earlier and later than traditional varieties, extending the popular apricot season. Commercialisation of the fruits will be handled by new company NZ Summerfresh Ltd who have 50,000 trees of the new varieties. While small offerings are available this year, full production is expected by 2025 - 2027 with Asian, Australian, and US markets being targeted.

Tags: Horticulture, Research & Development 

Deer Industry NZ on mission to challenge Russia's edge in velvet exports [2 September, The Country]

In hopes of increasing New Zealand’s velvet sales in South Korea, NZ deer industry representatives have travelled to the country to better assess the Russian dominated market. South Korea remains NZ’s largest market for velvet, accounting for over half of NZ exports, where the product is used in health products like teas and herbal supplements.

Tags: Deer, Food Innovation, Trade & Exports

Organoid tech can deliver 3D tissue in cellular agriculture: ‘It is a highly scalable platform that bypasses the scaffolding stage’ [6 September, Food Navigator]

Forsea Foods, an Israel cell-cultured seafood start-up, aims to use its patented organoid technology to produce eel meat in a simpler and more cost-effective way compared to typical cell-cultured meat processes. Their innovative approach utilises medical research to allow animal cells (e.g., muscle and fat tissue) to form natural compositions without the typical scaffolding stage in cell-cultured processes required to bring the different cells together.

Tags: Research & Development, Alternative Proteins, International 

Third property tests positive for M bovis [4 September, RNZ]

Routine cattle testing has uncovered a third site in Canterbury with cattle disease M Bovis and follows two early infected properties discovered in May and June this year. The Ministry of Primary Industries commented that the discovery was not unexpected at this stage of its eradication efforts and that work is currently underway to maintain the disease.

Tags: Biosecurity, Farmers & Producers