By Niki Bezzant Do they use Roundup on potatoes? This was the question hotly debated recently on Newstalk ZB, as part of a broader conversation (in which I was interviewed) about pesticides and chemicals used on food crops. The host, Simon Barnett, swore he had ‘heard somewhere’ that potatoes were sprayed with Roundup (glyphosate) and…
By Heather Chalmers New Zealand is one of the first countries to adopt United States-designed wireless NPK soil sensors, prompting a visit by its Wall Street developer. The Teralytic soil probes are being trialled in New Zealand’s potato growing regions, with 120 arriving in September. This follows a smaller-scale trial last season. Teralytic founder and…
By Heather Chalmers The breakdown of the traditional media model is an opportunity for growers to tell their own stories to consumers and engage them directly, says agri-food broadcaster and commentator Sarah Perriam. “We can take control of our story, rather than relying on media to do it for us. “Media are not the gatekeepers…
SE Asia responds to keener prices Strong demand from key South East Asian markets has helped New Zealand consolidate its fry export performance for the fourth consecutive month. Since March, total exports for each month have been above or close to 7 000 tonnes, with a particularly strong performance from markets in Malaysia and Thailand….
I caught up with Andy by phone as he rode his quad bike back to the office What do you enjoy most about working in the potato industry and how do you maintain your enthusiasm? The thing about farming and growing crops is that every day is different. There are always challenges, which keeps you…
By Gemma Carroll, Communications and Engagement Officer It was 5-6 months in the making, but I am happy to say we had a rich and thought-provoking gathering for our biennial conference and AGM. It was two days covering all things R&D at our Agronomists Forum, brilliant minds, experts in their fields as keynotes at our…
These are the current projects for our Industry. A detailed list of current and completed projects, with the latest updates, can be found on our website in the R&D/Projects headings https://potatoesnz.co.nz/research-and-development/research-projects/ PNZ 1 PFR MBIE Realising Potato Export Value Lead Organisation: Plant & Food Research Objective: Understanding and manipulating insect behavior Population genetic variation of…
By Niki Bezzant I like to listen to RNZ’s Country Life programme on Saturday morning. It is a well-put-together slice of rural life, and a great way to learn about the fascinating people growing food in our beautiful country. The other morning I heard that farmers are feeling ‘under attack’. I take this to mean…
By Gemma Carroll As we wound our way down to Port Levy, although only an hour from Christchurch city, it felt a world away. The turquoise waters of the harbour as still as glass, under the mid-afternoon Winter sun. We are greeted at the entrance to the whare tipuna, by Manaia Cunningham, a decendant of…
Now is the time for inclusion and diversity across all industry and horticulture can lead the way. This is an abstract written by Melanie Mark-Shadbolt, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Melanie is CEO of Te Tira Whakamātaki, the Māori Biosecurity Network and spoke on these key…
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