June 2009

From AgResearch Chief Executive
Dr Andrew West

National Fieldays focus – sustainable agriculture

Sustainable farming was the primary focus for AgResearch and its joint Premier Feature National Fieldays partners, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), and regional council Environment Waikato (EW).

Together, we showed the outcomes from some of our research projects on our joint stand at Fieldays. An important aim was to help farmers manage their current economic and environmental challenges.

AgResearch employs around 650 scientists and technicians. Their jobs are specifically aimed at making New Zealand farms and the wider pastoral sector sustainable and resilient in the face of change.

Helping farmers and food and textile processors to be more environmentally sustainable will remain a priority for AgResearch and we will continue to work closely with partners like MAF and EW.

Accompanying video podcast (broadband recommended)

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Protecting New Zealand from pesky plants

Scientist protects nursery industry

An AgResearch scientist is training regional council staff to identify and eradicate 40 new pest plants that could become a major problem for nurseries.

Dr Trevor James says the plant seeds have arrived amongst infected Coco Peat (composted coconut fibre) from Sri Lanka. This is widely used by the nursery industry.

The weeds can be very invasive because of their short reproductive cycles.

Plant pest managers from Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regional councils have completed the training. The weeds may thrive in these areas because they have relatively few frosts.

One large nursery in Northland has already had to employ 40 extra staff for a week to eradicate the weeds from its potted plants.

Accompanying video podcast (broadband recommended)

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Major boost for wool carpets

AgResearch’s Warren Meade has been instrumental in the adoption of a new industry standard that has opened up the United States market to New Zealand wool carpets in sustainable buildings.

Wool carpets will no longer be assessed against performance requirements that favour synthetic carpets. With the new standard making wool more competitive as a sustainable carpet fibre, New Zealand's wool industry looks set to receive a major boost.

As part of a Meat & Wool New Zealand contract, Wool Partners International engaged Meade, (AgResearch’s Manager of Carpet Technology and Process Engineering), whose strong background in wool carpet performance and the carpet industry was vital to achieving this major breakthrough.

“I submitted a test protocol more suited to wool carpets and presented it with supporting data to a committee meeting in America on May 27 this year. It was accepted in its entirety,” Meade says.

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Customers' opinions vital to better service

Brian Dingwall, Customer Relationship Manager

Each year we survey our customers' perceptions of our service, and the relationship we have with them.

This helps us identify how we can improve our service.

We thank all our customers, who participate so willingly in the survey each year, for the time and thought they contribute.

In 2009 our customers' opinions of our service and of the relationship they have with AgResearch have shown marked improvements from the 2008 Survey. We feel this reflects better communications and greater understanding on both sides.

This year, the most frequent suggestion as to how we can improve our performance and service delivery was directed at the timing of our work, and the timing of delivery of our project reports.

The next two most frequently requested improvements were to develop partnerships, share ideas, and to collaborate more; and to perform together more strategic and post-project reviews.

AgResearch will certainly focus on these issues as a priority in the coming months.

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New Acting General Manager for Food & Textiles Group

Providing leadership in an ever-changing science environment will be the focus for new Acting General Manager of the Food & Textiles Group, Professor Warren McNabb.

He replaces Dr Rob Finch, who leaves after five years of service.

Professor McNabb is an Eminent Scientist and was Section Manager of Food, Metabolism & Microbiology at AgResearch. He holds an appointment as a Massey University Adjunct Professor at the Riddet Institute.

Professor McNabb says the reality of science in this country is that things change all the time so he has no preconditioned agenda about how the role will evolve.

“With the pressure on the textile industry, we need to work out where it’s going and what Research and Development support it wants, while in the food area, we need to get more value for our outputs,” he says.

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Big Science – Big Results

AgResearch scientists recognised for making a difference

AgResearch Chief Scientist Dr Stephen Goldson has been elected Vice-President (in the area of Biological and Life Sciences) of the Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ) Council for a three-year term.

Dr Goldson, who has been a Fellow of the Royal Society since 2006 and is a member of the National Science Panel, says RSNZ has an important role in the representation of scientists and science issues.

“Currently there is real potential in investigating options for further enhancing the performance of the New Zealand science system. I look forward to contributing to such an opportunity.”

For more information contact
stephen.goldson@agresearch.co.nz

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A paper published by the AgResearch’s Applied Parasitology team has been awarded the most commendable paper in The New Zealand Veterinary Journal for 2008 by the Australian Society of Veterinary Scientists.

This is the third time the team has won this prize.

Authors of the paper were Dr Dave Leathwick, Chris Miller, Sam Atkinson, Neville Haack, Dr Tania Waghorn and Anne-Marie Oliver.

For more information contact dave.leathwick@agresearch.co.nz

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AgResearch Scientist Dr Dave Leathwick has been nominated to become an Associated Member of The Society of Sheep and Beef Cattle Veterinarians, a branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association.

He is one of only three non-veterinarians to be nominated.

For more information contact dave.leathwick@agresearch.co.nz

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AgResearch Principal Scientist Dr Stewart Ledgard is the lead international advisor for Chile in a project to determine the carbon footprint for a range of their agricultural products.

He is funded by MAF and the Chile INIA Research Team in the advisory role.

For more information contact stewart.ledgard@agresearch.co.nz

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