Field Notes Issue 721

In Aotearoa…

The government has allocated NZ $300,000 to a Women in Horticulture initiative aimed at supporting career progression. The initiative addresses the under-representation of women in leadership roles within the horticulture workforce, by providing workshops and professional development opportunities to help upskill mid-career women.

Miraka, a Tāupo-based dairy company, has launched New Zealand's first green hydrogen dual-fuel milk collection tanker. While hydrogen-powered vehicles are still an emerging technology, Miraka hopes it is an alternative to traditional heavy freight, as it saves around 39,000 litres of diesel annually and reduces milk collection CO² emissions by approximately 35% per vehicle.

The government has paused the national rollout of the Freshwater Farm Plan system, citing concerns about its complexity and cost. DairyNZ and Federated Farmers raised issues regarding the new requirements for on-farm freshwater risk assessments prompting the government to reevaluate the rollout. The revised freshwater farm regulation will be developed in consultation with industry. 

In international news…

The European Commission (EU) warns that the development of a vaccine to eradicate African swine fever, which continues to threaten pig farming, remains difficult. The outbreak in Italy, along with the struggles to develop a vaccine at the EU level, has prompted transport restrictions and culling measures to contain the spread of the disease.

The American government has announced a US $7.3 billion (NZ $12 billion) investment in 16 rural electric cooperatives, marking the largest federal investment in rural electrification. The initiative will generate 10 gigawatts of clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43.7 million tonnes annually, providing cleaner and more affordable energy to around 5 million rural households, farms, and businesses.

The British retailer Tesco will exclusively sell a rare hybrid orange-fleshed watermelon. Over the past 18 years, Tesco has collaborated with seed houses to cultivate the new variety, which is derived from old heirloom types and presents a sweeter taste than the red equivalent.

The Australian dairy company Saputo will discontinue its iconic Tasmanian King Island Dairy brand after being unable to find a buyer. The closure follows a 10-month review of all commercial and financial alternatives, and will have significant impact on the wider economy as the factory is the largest employer on the island. It has also left local dairy farmers disappointed, as they now have less than 12 months to seek an alternative buyer for their milk.

The Common Ground – A place to solve food & fibre’s wicked problems [10 September]

Earlier this week, AGMARDT and KPMG released The Common Ground – a proposed collaboration platform concept to drive trust and collaborative behaviour across the food & fibre industry good system. Based on the collaborative thought leadership report “Are Industry Good Organisations Good for Industry?” - the proposal is intended to stimulate debate about how we set-up future generations to solve ‘wicked’ problems and realise opportunities collectively. It explores the key constraints of the status quo system and offers The Common Ground – a platform concept to limit duplication, form Communities of Action on sector-wide issues and embed trust and collaboration in the sector for generations to come. Please visit “The Common Ground: website to learn more and download the full report. Website here

Tags: Common Ground, Industry Good, collaborative platform, collaboration

Scrutiny of Meat Labels Like Grass-Fed Misses Green Expectations [5 September, Bloomberg Law]

The United States Department of Agriculture has issued new guidance for terms like "grass-fed" and "free-range" in meat and poultry marketing. They are emphasising the need for robust documentation and third-party certifications to support environmental and animal-raising claims. The guidance aims to ensure transparency in labelling and to maintain consumer trust. Sustainability activists are not satisfied, expressing concerns about potential greenwashing and the need for clearer guidance. There is also debate about the effectiveness of third-party certifiers and their ability to ensure sustainability and animal welfare. Original full article here

Tags: meat labeling, grass-fed, free-range 

Farming: Foot-and-mouth outbreak could cost $14.3b in lost export revenue every year [6 September, The Country]

Recent analysis from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research indicates that an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease would cost New Zealand NZ $14.3 billion in lost export revenue annually. The Ministry for Primary Industries has proposed three management options: emergency short-term containment through vaccination; managing the outbreak over a longer period or living with the disease. If an outbreak was to occur, The Minister for Biosecurity, Andrew Hoggard, has endorsed the need for urgent eradication through emergency vaccination, where appropriate. This approach would take 10 months to eradicate the disease, incurring an estimated NZ $1.9 billion in operating costs and compensation, with a one-time $8.4 billion impact on the economy. Original full article here

Tags: Foot-and-mouth disease, export loss, disease eradication

Lab-Grown Cotton Startup Galy Closes $33M Series B Round Led by Bill Gates  [5 September, Green Queen]

Galy, a Boston-based startup, has secured over US$65 million (NZ$103 million) in funding, including $33 million (NZ$53 million) in a Series B investment round led by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Galy’s mission is to eliminate cotton's water consumption by growing it in labs using a cellular agriculture platform. Galy has developed a lab-grown cotton production method that is 10 times faster and 500 times more productive than traditional farming. It also uses 99% less water, takes up 97% less land, and emits 77% less CO². Their approach has support from major investors like H&M Group and Inditex, enabling Galy to advance its sustainable material to pre-industrial quality and scale. Original full article here 

Tags: cottton, innovation, cellular agriculture platform

CattleEye introduces ‘Body Condition Scoring’ tech for dairy cows  [8 August, FoodBev Media]

Northern Ireland-based company CattleEye has launched a Body Condition Scoring (BCS) system for dairy cows using an artificial intelligence (AI) system. CattleEye was acquired by the German corporation GEA Group, which then developed the technology to integrate it into its DairyNet portfolio. It uses a security camera and AI to assess the cows' body condition as they walk past the camera, providing insights to farmers. This system aims to help optimise rations, reduce metabolic diseases, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately enhancing dairy farm profitability. Original full article here.

Tags: Body Condition Scoring, AI, CattleEye