Field Notes Issue 713

In Aotearoa, Lincoln University is building an energy farm to demonstrate high value agrovoltaics, growing crops under solar panels. Approximately, 2,800 solar panels will be installed on a four-hectare site, increasing the university's total generating capacity to approximately ~3.56 GWh, 18% of the campus's annual electricity requirements. . In Central Otago, the Manuherikia Catchment Group has received NZ $1.9 million from the Ministry for the Environment’s At-Risk Catchment Fund to restore Thomson’s Creek wetland over 12 months. The funding will support the community clean-up, removal of willow trees, native plantings, while focusing on river care and spatial GIS mapping. New analysis suggests the Hawke's Bay horticultural sector requires at least NZ $410 million in additional funding to fully recover from the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.  A report by Boston Consulting Group indicate a further NZ $345 million is needed for re-planting and an additional NZ $65 million for on-orchard clean-up. Meanwhile, Crown Research Institute, Scion's new research initiative, Forest Insights will create an inventory of New Zealand's exotic planted forests and trees. The resource uses machine learning and deep learning models to create an interactive tool to make investment decisions easier through mapping, monitoring, and then estimating attributes such as age class, stand density, and timber volume.

In international news, a new direct air cargo route between China and Norway has launched specifically to import fresh Norwegian salmon, which has seen a 65% growth in sales in China over the past year. This new trade route will operate three return flights a week with Chinese e-commerce products on the return leg. In Romania, the multinational beverage company, PepsiCo has opened a new fully automated warehouse valued at US $33.5 million (NZ $55.2 million). Spanning 32,560 square metres and capable of storing 23,500 pallets, this facility marks the final phase of PepsiCo’s strategic investment project to centralise operations into a regional hub for Central and Southeastern Europe. Cereal production in the European Union (EU) is expected to decrease by 4.7% compared to last season. A report by Copa Cogec, a group of EU farm organisations, predicts that cereal production across the 27 EU member states will reach 257.3 million tonnes this year, with the total sown area decreasing by 3.5%. Meanwhile in red meat news, Australian livestock slaughter rates have surged with a 27% rise in lamb slaughter and a 21% increase in cattle slaughter compared to the same time last year. The influx of Australian beef and lamb into global markets has led to a softening of prices.

Historic GM trial bid [16 July, Rural News]

Crown Research Institute, AgResearch, has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct outdoor field trials on gene-edited endophytes in ryegrass. The purpose of the trial is to validate initial laboratory test results. These endophytes, which are symbiotic fungi living within the ryegrass plant, may offer enhanced pest protection and potentially reduce animal health issues such as ryegrass staggers. If approved, the trial will ensure that the gene-edited endophytes do not spread beyond designated containment areas. Original full article here

Tags: gene modification; rye grass; Environmental Protection Agency 

Agrecovery launches new recycling scheme [15 July, Rural News]

Rural recycling programme, Agrecovery, has introduced a new initiative to recycle wool fadges (large packs used to store bales of wool), a move aimed at promoting sustainability within the wool industry. In collaboration with the New Zealand Wool Dumping Group (NZWDG), the scheme will collect end-of-life high-density polyethylene wool fadges, sort and send them to Recycle South's processing plant in Southland for recycling into high-quality plastic pellets for resale. The new industry-specific scheme streamlines the process and enhances the lifecycle of these products within the circular economy whilst using NZWDG’s momentum for the demand for used and repaired woolpacks. Agrecovery's collaboration also aims to decrease on-farm costs and ensure a sustainable future for New Zealand farmers. Original full article here

Tags: wool fadges, circular economy, recycling scheme, New Zealand Wool Dumping Group 

Onions shed a layer of export hassle [11 July, Farmers Weekly]

In a recent trade deal, New Zealand onion growers will now have direct export access to Indonesia; no longer requiring fumigation which can affect quality. Instead, consignments will be checked in packhouses and growing regions, with verification from the Ministry of Primary Industries. The agreement is an updated co-operation arrangement which includes a reciprocal component to ease the sales of Indonesian pineapples in New Zealand. Indonesia's importance to New Zealand’s onion industry is significant – 85% of all onions grown in New Zealand are exported, and Indonesia is the biggest target market. Original full article here

Tags: onions; trade; fumigation; Indonesia 

National consultations begin to improve food security in remote First Nations communities [8 July, Australian Government]

The Australian Government is developing a national strategy for food security in remote First Nations communities to support long term, sustainable solutions. The AU $11.8 million (NZ $ 13.1 million) investment over two years is in response to the high cost, inconsistent availability, and at times poorer quality of food and essential groceries in remote areas, where prices can be over 50% higher than in regional supermarkets. The development of the strategy is a collaboration between federal, state and territory governments as well as First Nations health organisations. Consultations will involve regional forums and community visits and will run through July and August. Original full article here

Tags: food security; national food strategy; Australia; first nation communities

Morrisons becomes first retailer to trial agri skills digital platform [10 July, FarmingUK]

British supermarket, Morrisons has announced a collaboration with The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) to support farmers in attaining the required skills to achieve their net zero goals. The retailer will trial TIAH's digital platform, partly funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to address agriculture skills gaps with four modules covering calving best practice, common beef disease, and efficient forage. This is the latest in a number of initiatives by Morrisons' to meet their commitment to sourcing and promoting sustainable practices within its supply chain, and achieving net zero carbon from British farms by 2030. Original full article here

Tags: Morrisons; sustainable farming practices; agri skills; digitial platform