New Zealand ups funding for innovation in agriculture

AgResearch, New Zealand’s largest Crown Research Institute, has announced it is putting $100 million (€65m) into linking academic research with agri-businesses, the largest such initiative in agricultural research the country has seen.

The spending on facilities and resources for innovation hubs over the next four years aims to bring together academics and industry researchers in agriculture, the biggest contributor to New Zealand’s economy. However, the money will come from unused funds in other budget areas, not from additional government spending, according to an AgResearch statement.

“This represents the largest investment programme focused on agricultural science in AgResearch’s history and will better position us to help the pastoral sector sustainably improve productivity, export performance and deliver greater value to the New Zealand economy,” said Sam Robinson, AgResearch’s chairman.