K38 Reports

Major global agri-food trends and changes to the workforce in the future are expected to have an impact on people capability needed in the New Zealand primary industries. With New Zealand’s reliance on exports and competing in international markets, it is recognised that the skills and knowledge will need to keep pace with the evolving … Read more

Global food systems are experiencing unprecedented changes in the way food is produced, distributed and consumed.  Food systems are highly dependent on fossil fuels, emit large quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and significantly contribute to environmental problems (FAO, 2006).  Agricultural farming systems particularly in New Zealand are under increasing pressure given the growing awareness of … Read more

This paper is a literature review aiming to improve understanding of the potential of planting Manuka in the South Island to produce high value manuka honey, and what impact that will have on both the farming and apiculture sector. It is obvious very early on in this process that while the Manuka honey boom seems … Read more

This business plan, to establish and operate a cherry orchard in Central Otago, intends to achieve the following objectives: Understand the costs of establishing and operating a cherry Gain an overview of the challenges and risks within the Understand the market dynamics for NZ produced cherries and what the future market trends might To be … Read more

This report is an analysis and evaluation of the strategies to communicate and engage members of a New Zealand dairy co-operative (co-op). It has been written with three aims in mind. Firstly, this report has the aim of becoming a discussion piece exploring a new frontier of how dairy co-ops need to connect and engage … Read more

The report titled: What are the Implications of Technologies for Rural Banking by Year 2030 sets out to establish the following key aims: What the major technologies are, that are most likely to significantly impact the New Zealand Rural Banking sector. To understand the implications of these technologies and their likely impact on the Rural … Read more

An exploratory study was completed that builds on prior research, in particular work that was completed on distress and burnout among NZ dairy farmers (Botha and White, 2013).  Also relevant to this project is a Kellogg project on financial literacy. (Wayne Berry, 2009).  My motivation in this research work is for it to be a … Read more

The first settlers were recognised for establishing farms and runs by breaking in land, building boundary fences, establishing key farm infrastructure, processing facilities and forging development of new distribution channels. Pastoral farming[1] rapidly became the mainstay of the New Zealand economy, creating the fabric of rural communities, provincial towns and provided the opportunity for urban … Read more

Our world in 2018, is one where perception is reality and the new industry buzz word is consumer-centric.  In a world where primary industries need be obsessed with their consumer it begs the question, what is the customer’s perception of their food and its production?  Highlighted to me two years ago when hosting a group … Read more

This paper examines whether there is demand for a carbon neutral attribute on a red meat brand offering. The vision for how supply criteria of this product would need to be met is modelled on milk and wool supplier criteria from added value brands. The certification of the carbon neutral status of the product would … Read more

This report synthesises communication, connection and collaboration into one solution-based idea, an information platform for events. I needed to identify if there was a need for an information platform.  Looking at the user/farmer not being able to attend the events from the inadequate lead in time, to missing events. For industry, understanding what the main … Read more

The conversation about “young people” in the New Zealand primary industries is one that we have all mulled over for a numerous years now. Of major concern to many agribusinesses is the transient nature of the young people they employ – it seems that holding on to a millennial staff member for more than five … Read more

“The large-scale commercial farming of deer started in New Zealand, and New Zealand remains the world’s largest and most advanced deer farming industry” (DINZ, n.d.). Recently, a significant increase in demand for pet food products has developed. This has been fuelled by American and European customers buying for pets which are now so highly regarded … Read more

The topic of mental wellness has become more mainstream in New Zealand due to suicide rates continuing to climb and as more and more people suffer from stress, depression and anxiety in an ever evolving busy society. Unfortunately the rural sector is not immune. In fact the rural sector has a higher suicide rate per … Read more

The kiwifruit sector has a serious labour shortage.  What is the extent of the shortages, why has the industry got to this problem and how can we address the shortages? The aims for me in doing this project was to get an understanding of the labour problems facing the kiwifruit industry.  I wanted to see … Read more

Tourism is now New Zealand’s biggest export earner which is rapidly growing, with close to five million tourists expected in 2023.  A large draw-card attracting tourists to New Zealand is the rolling hills, farming persona and pristine environment.  If New Zealand farmers can leverage off international tourists, and provide each of the five million a … Read more

There is great disconnect in society when it comes to externalities and who pays for these. Specifically in agriculture, the common goods be it air, water and soil are getting destroyed by modern farming methods. It is these very foundations that everything is built on, not just a farm or some food. Environmental limits are … Read more

The recent outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) has shone the biosecurity spotlight directly on the pastoral sector and follows recent serious biosecurity breaches in the horticulture sector with Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) devastating kiwifruit orchards in 2010. Biosecurity in New Zealand is primarily governed through the Biosecurity Act 1993 and is led by … Read more

The aim of this paper is to clearly define the Circular Economy (CE) concept and showing its potential for NZ agribusiness using mini case studies to provide insights on how we can improve our sustainability and add economic value in an ethically values-based way.  The research methods used for this report involve a literature review … Read more

Urban expansion is reducing the availability of some of New Zealand’s most versatile productive land for growing food. Between 2002 and 2016 there has been a 30% reduction in vegetable-growing land across New Zealand (Deloitte, 2018). Due to the abundance of land available, there is a misconception that food crops can simply be grown elsewhere, … Read more

In a knowledge driven world, changes to the buying behaviour of consumers is shaping the need for New Zealand exporters to pivot towards a consumer centric model. This requires us to shape the way we produce and market New Zealand products to fit the demands of the discerning consumer. Changing consumer buying behavior and the … Read more

For as long as I can remember the dairy industry has struggled to attract and retain people. There are varying reasons for this and these have all culminated in the position the dairy industry currently finds itself in. I am hugely passionate about the dairy industry and have experienced firsthand these staffing issues. This is … Read more

Major global agri-food trends and changes to the workforce in the future are expected to have an impact on people capability needed in the New Zealand primary industries. With New Zealand’s reliance on exports and competing in international markets, it is recognised that the skills and knowledge will need to keep pace with the evolving … Read more