Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures projects
Find out about Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) projects that have been funded so far.
Food safety to meet challenging markets
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $596,854
- Co-investment funding: $419,090
- Sectors: Horticulture, Sector resilience
- Sub-sectors: Apples and pears
- Project partners: New Zealand Apples and Pears Inc
- Regions: Nationwide
This project developed procedures and guidance for managing the risk of food borne pathogens on apples and pears. It received positive engagement from industry, particularly in training and extension programmes, and in applying new food safety practices. The strong commitment from growers has led to some packhouses sharing their learnings – and even their monitoring and cleaning crews – to improve practices across the board. The revised approach will help ensure New Zealand apple and pear production and fruit handling systems continue to meet the requirements of export markets.
Fortified plant-based meat snacks
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $205,829
- Co-investment funding: $411,744
- Sectors: Food and beverage products, Horticulture
- Sub-sectors: Peas
- Project partners: Off-Piste Limited
- Regions: Nationwide
This project assisted in the development of New Zealand’s first plant-based meat snack brand. It also investigated the viability of developing pea and faba bean protein concentrate growing and processing capability in New Zealand, with assistance from the Foundation for Arable Research and PwC.
Report: Feasibility of Pea and Fava Bean Protein Extraction in New Zealand
Foulbrood detection
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $50,000
- Co-investment funding: $45,000
- Sectors: Apiculture
- Sub-sectors: Other apiculture products (wax/pollen products)
- Project partners: Downunder Honey, K9 Search Medical Detection Training Centre, Massey University
- Regions: Nationwide
This project succeeded in its aim to develop a scientific methodology for training detection dogs to reliably detect the infectious bacterial disease American Foulbrood (AFB) in beehives, by creating a ‘scent picture’ of the disease. The researchers found that dogs can reliably detect the presence of AFB spores at varying concentrations inside a sterile lab environment with the presence of beehive components. These results have the potential to change the way AFB is managed in New Zealand.
Free-to-farmer FAP+ Portal Prototype
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $120,000
- Co-investment funding: $120,000
- Sectors: Agritech, Meat
- Sub-sectors: Other meat products/research
- Project partners: FarmIQ Systems Ltd
- Regions: Nationwide
This project successfully prototyped a new free-to-farmer digital portal to help farmers in the red meat industry learn about and manage their on-farm recording requirements to meet the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP) standards. The project also provided technical specifications for the software build phase and outlined a potential business case for funding of the solution by industry.
From the Ground Up – building value and volume for Auckland
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $180,000
- Co-investment funding: $270,000
- Sectors: Horticulture, Seafood/aquatic
- Project partners: Auckland Unlimited
- Regions: Auckland
This project assisted a collective of food and beverage businesses in the Auckland region to improve their resilience, productivity, and sustainability. The project consisted of four workstreams - supporting the urban renewal of Onehunga; mussel farming in Clevedon; inter-regional alignment and collaboration between seafood sectors in Auckland and The Coromandel; and a business manufacturing plastic-alternatives from potato starch.
Future dairy farm systems for Northland
- Project start date:
- Project length: 5 years
- MPI funding: $776,114
- Co-investment funding: $917,920
- Sectors: Dairy, Regenerative agriculture
- Sub-sectors: Cow dairy products
- Project partners: Northland Dairy Development Trust
- Regions: Northland
This project will demonstrate strategies that may help farmers adapt their farm systems to mitigate the effects of climate change and comply with changing regulations. It will test the effectiveness of three different dairy farm systems.
Future Farming Amuri Basin
- Project start date:
- Project length: 3 years
- MPI funding: $1,496,500
- Co-investment funding: $1,196,500
- Sectors: Dairy, Sector resilience
- Project partners: Ecan, DairyNZ
- Regions: Canterbury
This project will take sustainable farming beyond the regulatory minimums by continually improving management practice. It will seek ways to adapt to climate change, monitor water quality and manage community expectations. This will be achieved through establishing farmer-based catchment groups to empower them to find solutions to their collective challenges; developing a spatial risk-based resource management modelling system; and piloting a local price-based incentive mechanism to accelerate freshwater improvements.
Government backs strategy to improve water quality in Amuri Basin – Government media release
Future Orchard Planting Systems
- Project start date:
- Project length: 5 years
- MPI funding: $1,650,000
- Co-investment funding: $1,100,000
- Sectors: Agritech, Horticulture
- Sub-sectors: Apples and pears
- Project partners: Plant & Food Research, New Zealand Apples and Pear Inc, Rockit Global, Summerfruit New Zealand
- Regions: Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Otago
The Future Orchard Planting System (FOPS) is a scientifically proven fruit tree growing system with potential to double yields of certain fruit varieties by growing trees in a planar structure and maximising light utilisation. This project will demonstrate the system’s viability on-orchard and support orchardists to transition to this new way of growing, including adopting new technologies. The project is expected to increase productivity and resource efficiency.
MPI funding for transition to Future Orchard Planting Systems - Plant & Food Research
Future proofing the New Zealand poultry industry against biological hazards
- Project start date:
- Project length: 3 years 9 months
- MPI funding: $240,000
- Co-investment funding: $110,000
- Sectors: Meat
- Sub-sectors: Poultry
- Project partners: Massey University, Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand, Egg Producers Federation
- Regions: Nationwide
The New Zealand poultry industry is vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks that can disrupt domestic supply chains as well as access to international trade markets. This project involves working with poultry producers, industry, and government to co-design a national poultry information system with decision-support tools to help the poultry industry prepare and respond effectively to future disease threats.
Future Ready Farms
- Project start date:
- Project length: 5 years
- MPI funding: $10,058,000
- Co-investment funding: $15,087,000
- Sectors: Dairy
- Sub-sectors: Other animal dairy products/research
- Project partners: Ballance Agri-Nutrients
- Regions: Nationwide
This programme aims to trial and develop 12 farm nutrient technologies that will help meet national environmental targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural chemical use, and nutrient loss to waterways.
Partnership to reduce food and fibre sector’s environmental footprint – Government media release
Ballance supporting the next generation of NZ innovators – Ballance
Future Ready Farms outcome logic model [PDF, 635 KB]
December 2023 to February 2024: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 263 KB]
September to November 2023: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 468 KB]
June 2023 to August 2023: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 518 KB]
March to May 2023: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 262 KB]
December 2022 to February 2023: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 311 KB]
September to November 2022: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 413 KB]
April to June 2021: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 168 KB]
January to March 2021: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 229 KB]
October to December 2020: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 141 KB]
Gladstone Land Cluster
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $90,923
- Co-investment funding: $18,000
- Sectors: Arable, Māori agribusiness
- Project partners: Te Whiti South Trust
- Regions: Wellington
This project aims to help the trustees of the Gladstone Land Cluster in the Wairarapa to explore opportunities to use their land and expand their asset and income base as part of a 3 to 5 year medium-term plan.
Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognition of NZGAP
- Project start date:
- Project length: 3 years 4 months
- MPI funding: $54,400
- Co-investment funding: $96,100
- Sectors: Horticulture, Sector resilience
- Sub-sectors: Other fruit/fruit products, Other vegetables/vegetable products
- Project partners: New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP)
- Regions: Nationwide
This project aims to attain formal recognition of the NZGAP programme by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This will enable New Zealand producers to export to most international markets, with the benefit of using a NZGAP Standard that has been written and designed specifically for New Zealand producers.
GoDairy campaign – providing the inspiration and opportunity to change careers
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $820,000
- Co-investment funding: $490,000
- Sectors: Dairy, Sector resilience
- Sub-sectors: Other animal dairy products/research
- Project partners: DairyNZ
- Regions: Nationwide
This project sought to attract New Zealand workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic into the dairy sector, through a marketing and communications campaign and newly developed three-week courses. The courses involved one week of online training and two weeks of practical training, delivered at sites around New Zealand. As the project progressed it became apparent the anticipated impacts of COVID-19 on employment were less than forecast. The project was reviewed and revised milestones were agreed between MPI and DairyNZ at the end of 2021. Online training was reduced and the project was re-positioned to support both dairy sector employers and potential new employees. This included initiatives such as Good Boss and the Go Dairy marketing campaign.
Gourmet direct dairy based rose veal production model
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $364,000
- Co-investment funding: $475,039
- Sectors: Food and beverage products, Meat
- Sub-sectors: Beef
- Project partners: Gourmet Direct
- Regions: Hawke's Bay
Gourmet Direct developed a scalable production model to produce Rose Veal derived from mature bobby calves. The project showed that it is possible to provide chilled Rose Veal 12 months of the year.
Gourmet Direct tested the meat twice to ascertain nutrient levels and produced a nutrition and health benefit report. The meat achieved AsureQuality certification for animal welfare and traceability. Gourmet Direct also drafted a meat consumption and Rose Veal market report and conducted research on options to better utilise the by-products. Currently, the volume of by-products is too low for higher-value utilisation.
Gravity fishing
- Project start date:
- Project length: 2 years
- MPI funding: $120,437
- Co-investment funding: $86,400
- Sectors: Māori agribusiness, Seafood/aquatic
- Project partners: Gravity Fishing Limited
- Regions: Southland, Wairarapa
This project will trial the Gravity Fishing method and determine its feasibility compared to conventional methods. The Gravity Fishing method is hook and line fishing and supports sustainable, traceable and transparent fishing. Customers order their fish online, which is then delivered directly to the customer, from hook to plate. The project will evaluate and update the online ordering platform to ensure it is fit for purpose.
Greengrower
- Project start date:
- Project length: 4 years
- MPI funding: $3,530,000
- Co-investment funding: $5,295,000
- Sectors: Horticulture
- Sub-sectors: Other vegetables/vegetable products
- Project partners: Sustineri Limited
- Regions: Nationwide
This project aims to develop vertical farming facilities in a controlled environment. It will start with supporting elements of a commercial proof-of-concept facility in Hamilton, to supply retail and wholesale markets in the North and South Island. Sustineri, working with parent company Greengrower, seeks to demonstrate vertical farming systems’ potential as a long-term solution for low waste, sustainable farming practices and enhanced food security in New Zealand.
Vertical farming partnership has upward momentum – Government media release
Greengrower Outcome Logic Model [PDF, 139 KB]
April to June 2023 – Greengrower progress report [PDF, 284 KB]
January to March 2023 - Greengrower progress report [PDF, 304 KB]
October to December 2022 - Greengrower progress report [PDF, 362 KB]
July to September 2022 - Greengrower progress report [PDF, 354 KB]
Greenshell mussel powder quality standards
- Project start date:
- Project length: 1 year
- MPI funding: $60,000
- Co-investment funding: $35,000
- Sectors: Seafood/aquatic
- Sub-sectors: Farmed - marine shellfish
- Project partners: Aquaculture New Zealand, Cawthron Institute and Greenshell Mussel Powder producers
- Regions: Nationwide
Working in partnership with producers and Cawthron, Aquaculture New Zealand will develop a set of science-based quality assurance standards for Greenshell mussel powder. This will safeguard a uniquely New Zealand product and demonstrate authenticity within the market. It will also build customer and consumer confidence across high value domestic and international markets.
GreenWave: Regenerative ocean farming seaweed pilot
- Project start date:
- Project length: 3 years
- MPI funding: $1,993,920
- Co-investment funding: $3,016,244
- Sectors: Seafood/aquatic
- Sub-sectors: Aquatic plants (algae and seaweed)
- Project partners: EnviroStrat Limited
- Regions: Bay of Plenty, Waikato
This project will pilot end-to-end commercial seaweed farming in New Zealand using a community model already developed in the United States. The pilot will include hatchery, farming and processing facilities. This will be a first step towards sustainable seaweed farming in New Zealand, and the creation of a blue carbon and nitrogen market.
Media release: Pilot project aims to establish commercial seaweed farming sector in New Zealand
Growers Leading Change
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $1,169,000
- Co-investment funding: $1,315,000
- Sectors: Arable, Sector resilience
- Project partners: Foundation for Arable Research, various arable growers
- Regions: Nationwide
This project developed and tested an extension framework enabling knowledge sharing between arable growers. Twenty-one Arable Growth Groups and four pathfinder farms have been established across New Zealand to undertake grower-led activities and research. The groups were praised by participants for building knowledge and connections and fostering a sense of community between growers. The groups created a range of resources to share learnings.
Growers Leading Change website
Growing an almond opportunity! Feasibility of a New Zealand almond industry
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $67,000
- Co-investment funding: $41,922
- Sectors: Horticulture
- Sub-sectors: Nuts
- Project partners: Central Hawke's Bay District Council, Plant and Food Research, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Wairoa District Council, Hastings District Council, Picot Productions Limited, Tony Kuklinski, Ngati Porou, Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust, Taiwhenua o Tamatea, Hawke’s Bay Future Farming Trust
- Regions: Hawke's Bay
This project investigated the feasibility of establishing a New Zealand almond industry. It looked at how to grow a premium quality product using sustainable agronomic practices. It researched optimised light utilisation for higher yields and quality, as well as lower water and nutrient footprint and integrated pest management approaches to reduce the use of synthetic crop protection compounds.