Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures projects
Find out about Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) projects that have been funded so far.
Multi-weed biocontrol
- Project start date:
- Project length: 3 years
- MPI funding: $2,090,000
- Co-investment funding: $1,200,000
- Sectors: Arable, Biosecurity, Dairy, Forestry, Meat
- Sub-sectors: Biocontrol, Biosecurity
- Project partners: Landcare Research New Zealand Limited, the National Biocontrol Collective (a consortium of regional councils, unitary authorities, and DOC)
- Regions: Nationwide
This project will develop simultaneous biocontrol solutions for 6 high priority weeds through a coordinated national research project with the National Biocontrol Collective. These weeds are costly to control for landowners and councils. Over time, successful biocontrol of these weeds will reduce the need to use conventional herbicides. Productivity of the land will be improved, as well as farmers' ability to comply with environmental regulations.
Nationwide project offers hope in war against weeds – MPI media release
Mussel float attachment project
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $72,500
- Co-investment funding: $72,200
- Sectors: Seafood/aquatic
- Sub-sectors: Aquatic plants (algae and seaweed)
- Project partners: S&S Development (2020) Limited
- Regions: Marlborough, Tasman
This project has developed a float attachment system for longline mussel farming. This system will withstand the rough conditions of open water without float loss and completely eliminate the use of plastic rope for attachment, which currently is being lost at sea.
N-Vision NZ, Smarter nitrogen management for a better New Zealand
- Project start date:
- Project length: 7 years
- MPI funding: $7,300,000
- Co-investment funding: $14,700,000
- Sectors: Dairy, Meat
- Project partners: Ravensdown Fertiliser Cooperative Limited, Lincoln University, Plant & Food Research
- Regions: Nationwide
This programme will focus on three technology streams aimed at significantly reducing agricultural greenhouse gases and nitrate leaching. These technologies will help farmers reduce nitrogen fertiliser use on pastoral farms while maintaining production and profitability.
New research harnesses soil fungus for environmental mitigation – Ravensdown
Smarter nitrogen management for a better New Zealand – Outcome logic model [PDF, 179 KB]
December 2023 to February 2024 - N-Vision progress report [PDF, 138 KB]
September 2023 to November 2023 - N-Vision progress report [PDF, 249 KB]
June 2023 to August 2023 – N-Vision progress report [PDF, 195 KB]
March 2023 to May 2023 – N-Vision progress report [PDF, 222 KB]
December 2022 to March 2023 – N-Vision progress report [PDF, 171 KB]
June 2022 to August 2022 – N-Vision NZ progress report [PDF, 175 KB]
March 2022 to May 2022 – N-Vision NZ progress report [PDF, 130 KB]
December 2021 to February 2022 – N-Vision NZ progress report [PDF, 136 KB]
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF FARMER-LED SUSTAINABLE HEALTH GROUPS
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $472,200
- Co-investment funding: $310,039
- Sectors: Animal health and welfare
- Sub-sectors: Other animal dairy products/research
- Project partners: VetSouth Ltd, VetNZ Ltd, West Coast Vets Ltd, Taranaki Vets Ltd, Rangiora Vets Ltd, Southern Rangitikei Vets Ltd
- Regions: Nationwide
This project aimed to initiate and drive change regarding antimicrobial use, and improve disease management on farms. Using Participatory Development methodology, farmer-led Sustainable Health Groups were created to develop farmer-initiated strategies to reduce antimicrobial use and improve disease management.
The project successfully demonstrated the value of this approach. On average, farmers enrolled in the study used 11% less antimicrobials compared to the previous year, while antimicrobial use increased by 3.5% amongst farmers not participating in the study.
National development of farmer-led Regional Sustainable Health Groups – Final project report [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Network technology to optimise readiness, response and eradication of bio-security incursions in the primary sector
- Project start date:
- Project length: 3 year
- MPI funding: $4,000,000
- Co-investment funding: $6,000,000
- Sectors: Agritech, Biosecurity
- Project partners: OnSide Ltd
- Regions: Nationwide
This project will expand biosecurity readiness and response software developed by Onside Ltd. The software uses data from a range of sources to construct an intricate map of rural interactions that’s able to map potential disease pathways. It will be a faster and more efficient way of supporting biosecurity management activity.
Media releases
Govt invests in cost-saving biosecurity app to protect rural sector – Government media release
Programme documents
Quarterly progress report summaries
New dairy genetics information system
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $792,000
- Co-investment funding: $255,746
- Sectors: Agritech, Dairy
- Sub-sectors: Other animal dairy products/research
- Project partners: NZ Dairy Cattle Breed Societies
- Regions: Nationwide
This project developed a new information system to collect data on the physical and behavioural traits of dairy cows, to help evaluate the performance of New Zealand’s top breeding bulls. The system has been integrated with the Dairy Industry Good
Animal Database, managed by DairyNZ subsidiary New Zealand Animal Evaluation Limited.
Media release: New system to help evaluate performance of New Zealand's dairy genetics
New Zealand Frozen Cherry Trial
- Project start date:
- Project length: 1 year 6 months
- MPI funding: $40,000
- Co-investment funding: $90,000
- Sectors: Horticulture
- Sub-sectors: Stone fruit
- Project partners: Eden Juice Limited
- Regions: Otago
This project aims to perform a manual trial of freezing pitted cherries. It will create a business case to determine whether a commercial venture is viable.
New Zealand microalgae as a future food
- Project start date:
- Project length: 2 years
- MPI funding: $750,000
- Co-investment funding: $750,000
- Sectors: Seafood/aquatic
- Project partners: Cawthron Institute, NewFish, Kernohan Engineering Limited
- Regions: Nelson
This project will screen and identify highly nutritious microalgae for use in processed foods. The researchers will build a prototype bioreactor to facilitate scaled-up biomass production.
Next Generation Farming
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $686,600
- Co-investment funding: $460,000
- Sectors: Arable, Dairy, Sector resilience
- Project partners: Waimakariri Landcare Trust (formerly Next Generation Farming Trust)
- Regions: Canterbury
A group of Waimakariri farmers facing significant nitrate restrictions developed a 'whole of farm business planning' approach and demonstrated new technology and management practices to help farm profitably within environmental limits. Outcomes have been shared with the wider farming community through workshops, video, print media, case studies and farm open-days.
Ngā Huruhuru Waitai ō Tangaroa
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $120,000
- Co-investment funding: $20,000
- Sectors: Māori agribusiness, Seafood/aquatic
- Sub-sectors: Other fisheries research - miscellaneous
- Project partners: Ngai Tumapuhia a Rangi ki Motuwairaka Incorporated
- Regions: Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa
The project set out to improve information and insights to advance the sustainable use of marine resources in a way that protects tikanga Māori and taonga kai in the forum area of the Māhia, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa regions. It improved collaboration, understanding and engagement with key groups in these areas through wānanga and training workshops. It also supported the forum strategy for improved water safety, research opportunities, and wānanga/training delivery planning. Tangata Kaitiaki, customary fishers, whānau/hapū involved in the project have reported feeling invigorated, motivated and inspired to learn more about sustainable management within the context of law and lore to support the legal framework and honour mātauranga Māori.
Ngai Tahu Freshwater Koura
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $280,030
- Co-investment funding: $56,006
- Sectors: Māori agribusiness, Seafood/aquatic
- Sub-sectors: Land-based - shellfish
- Project partners: Ngai Tahu Freshwater Koura
- Regions: Canterbury, Nelson, Otago, Southland, Tasman
The farming of freshwater kōura is not common in New Zealand but there is significant demand for it both nationally and internationally. This project will develop detailed business cases and infrastructure planning for a cluster of landowners to enter the freshwater kōura industry.
Ngāti Pāhauwera and Paroa Whenua Collective
- Project start date:
- Project length: 2 years
- MPI funding: $220,000
- Co-investment funding: $44,000
- Sectors: Horticulture, Māori agribusiness, Meat
- Project partners: Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust
- Regions: Hawke's Bay
This project supports Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust and Paroa Trust, to explore ways to work collaboratively to improve their respective farming operations, including livestock operations, horticulture possibilities and infrastructure investment. The entities will also investigate how they can support nearby land trusts to achieve their aspirations for their own lands.
Ngāti Porou mānuka R&D extension programme
- Project start date:
- Project length: 2 years
- MPI funding: $500,000
- Co-investment funding: $140,000
- Sectors: Apiculture
- Sub-sectors: Monofloral
- Project partners: Ngāti Porou Miere
- Regions: Gisborne
This project centres around the strategic removal of barriers to research and development participation in apiculture within Ngāti Porou for Māori landowners. It will create a research strategy and framework to manage research data and related intellectual property. The project also includes a pilot for a research-driven programme to breed and grow mānuka trees based on their honey-producing attributes.
Nitration filtration technology: Engineered microbiome NZ
- Project start date:
- Project length: 1 year
- MPI funding: $249,999
- Co-investment funding: $250,000
- Sectors: Agritech, Dairy
- Project partners: Waiora Research Limited
- Regions: Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, Otago, Southland, Tasman, West Coast
This pilot project will test the efficacy of Waiora Research Limited’s eClean Bioreactor technology on a 1:10 scale in different types of farming systems. The technology is able to remove nitrates, phosphate, E.coli and other chemical and biological contaminants from any water-based environment, and has sensor capability enabling real time monitoring of the removal rates of contaminants.
Water cleaning research heads to the farm – Ara | Te Pūkenga
Non-invasive hot grading of intramuscular fat (IMF) of NZ lamb carcasses
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $136,675
- Co-investment funding: $209,075
- Sectors: Meat
- Sub-sectors: Sheepmeat (including lamb)
- Project partners: inMR Measure Limited
- Regions: Nationwide
In an industry first, this project proved that New Zealand lamb can be automatically graded for intramuscular fat, hot and in-line. A novel sensor system, called Marbl™, was tailored for New Zealand carcasses and validated at a processing facility. The non-destructive, automated measurements can be combined with other traits to differentiate products and create premium brands.
Novel disbudding technology
- Project start date:
- Project length: 3 years
- MPI funding: $684,000
- Co-investment funding: $806,500
- Sectors: Animal health and welfare, Dairy
- Project partners: Welfare Concepts Limited
- Regions: Nationwide
This project will develop and test an injectable formula to prevent horn growth in newborn calves and goat kids. This solution aims to be pain-free, while also being a safer delivery method for farmers and vets.
Novel free farrowing for New Zealand pork production
- Project start date:
- Project length: 3 years
- MPI funding: $212,700
- Co-investment funding: $675,592
- Sectors: Animal health and welfare, Meat
- Sub-sectors: Pork
- Project partners: PIC New Zealand Ltd
- Regions: Nationwide
The project aims to validate a novel free farrowing system as a viable replacement for the farrowing crate in New Zealand. It will support research into the welfare, performance, and practicality of this new crate free system for sows and piglets at farrowing and during lactation.
Novel long-lasting analgesia in lambs undergoing tail docking and castration
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $53,700
- Co-investment funding: $40,700
- Sectors: Animal health and welfare
- Sub-sectors: Sheep dairy products
- Project partners: Massey University
- Regions: Manawatū-Whanganui
This research tested a pain mitigation (analgesic) strategy for lambs undergoing castration and tail docking. The lambs were treated with Firocoxib, a long-acting non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug used for control of pain and inflammation. Lambs treated with this drug showed less stress and pain behaviours compared to untreated lambs. No drug toxicity was observed, and it did not impede the average daily gain of lambs. Tissue residue levels of the drug need to be determined in future studies.
Nutrient extraction from potatoes and kumara
- Project start date:
- Completed date:
- MPI funding: $79,600
- Co-investment funding: $352,038
- Sectors: Food and beverage products, Horticulture
- Sub-sectors: Potatoes, Squash
- Project partners: Powered by Plants Ltd
- Regions: Nationwide
This project aimed to establish an economic way of using 'out-of-grade' potatoes and kumara, by developing higher value ingredients such as protein and starch. It developed a business case that proposes new ways to use these ingredients.
NZ cashmere – sustainably beautiful
- Project start date:
- Project length: 3 years
- MPI funding: $900,000
- Co-investment funding: $1,340,000
- Sectors: Natural fibres
- Sub-sectors: Animal-based fibres, Other wool products
- Project partners: New Zealand Cashmere GP Ltd
- Regions: Gisborne, Otago
This project aims to develop a new high-value, sustainable, and innovative cashmere industry for New Zealand’s agricultural and textile sectors.