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 | | Returns from beetle battle show importance of pest management
Tuesday 26 March 2013
Success in tackling a destructive beetle on the West Coast has underlined the importance of having integrated pest management plans on farms.
Richard Townsend, Research Associate at AgResearch at Lincoln, said that the work in battling the manuka beetle has seen a reduction of pesticide costs as a proportion of milk solid revenues from 23% to 7% a year. More >>
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 | | Ingenious Kiwi grass prepares to go global
Friday 22 March 2013An ingenious Kiwi solution to the billion dollar bird strike problem is getting ready to go global after impressing airport experts from around the world.
AgResearch scientists have developed a tool to help airport managers control the problem, a grass containing a special novel endophyte that naturally deters wildlife and insects.
Bird strikes at airports cost the aviation industry an estimated US$1.2 billion annually in both damage to airplanes and deterrence measures. More >>
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 | | Commercial Partnership Pays Dividends for New Zealand
Tuesday 12 March 2013
An AgResearch-developed wool dyeing technology that bridges the gap between high performance and haute couture is set to shine on a global stage thanks to a worldwide licensing deal.
The revolutionary textile dyeing process is now being commercialised by BGI Development. It enables wool to be dyed two colours at the same time, and graphics and images to be dyed into the fabric. There is no loss of the quality feel of the fabric and the images won’t deteriorate over time. More >>
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 | | Irish wasp more than match for clover root weevil
Monday 10 December 2012The Irish wasp is back to battle the clover root weevil this summer, after a slump in numbers.
Like many farmers in the northern North Island, Mike McKie from Opunaki has been benefiting from plentiful clover in recent years, but is now alarmed at the reappearance of the distinctive feeding notches of the adult clover root weevil and the number of larvae in the soil. More >>
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 | | AgResearch scientist receives prestigious scholarship
Thursday 6 December 2012The Rutherford Foundation Trust has awarded prestigious scholarships to nine of New Zealand’s most outstanding emerging researchers, including AgResearch scientist Estelle Dominati.
Highlights from the 2012 funding round include a range of projects, from Estelle’s work on the future of resource management in New Zealand to the treatment of osteoporosis and cardiac dysfunction in diabetes and black holes in astrophysics. More >>
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 | | AgResearch develops unique biopesticide
Friday 23 November 2012As summer approaches, one of New Zealand’s most serious pasture pests, porina, is emerging from the soil to mate and scatter vast numbers of eggs. It will cost farmers many millions of dollars.
AgResearch scientists are working on a chemical-free biopesticide that kills the pasture-munching caterpillars that emerge in huge numbers each spring and summer. It also kills the notoriously damaging grass grub and a major apple orchard pest, the bronze beetle. More >>
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 | | Dairy research and innovation boost
Tuesday 20 November 2012Research and innovation in New Zealand’s most valuable export industry received a significant boost today with the signing of an agreement between The University of Auckland, industry-good body DairyNZ, farmer cooperative LIC (Livestock Improvement Corporation) and New Zealand’s largest Crown Research Institute AgResearch. More >>
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| | New research shows oral cattle drench most effective
Monday 19 November 2012A new study by AgResearch scientists shows oral cattle drenches are far more effective than the equivalent pour-on or injectable products.
In a study soon to be published in the international science journal Veterinary Parasitology, AgResearch scientists Chris Miller and Dave Leathwick measured how effective the same drench active (moxidectin) was when given orally, as a pour-on or as an injectable. More >>
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 | | Scientists search for lustrous lambs
Tuesday 6 November 2012AgResearch scientists are on the look-out for lambs with curious coats and they need farmers help to find them.
Last year, a lamb with an unusual wool coat was identified by a farmer and brought to the attention of AgResearch staff involved in the AgResearch Enhanced Wool Quality project. More >>
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 | | A successful year for AgResearch
Tuesday 9 October 2012On-farm pest control, new value-added products and improved environmental performance are three of the significant contributions made by AgResearch scientists to New Zealand's agricultural economy over the past year, according to its 2012 annual report.
At the same time, the country's largest scientific organisation has sought to realign itself more closely with its farmer, government, industry sector and other stakeholders, says Chief Executive Dr Tom Richardson.
“There is still much to do and we have valued the willingness of our sector partners to engage with us,” he says. More >>
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 | | A scientific world first at AgResearch
Tuesday 2 October 2012AgResearch scientists have bred the first cow in the world to produce high protein milk that may be hypo-allergenic.
The work by scientists at AgResearch’s Ruakura campus has been published in the current edition of the prestigious American science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). More >>
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| | Testing natural products for AgResearch
Wednesday 12 September 2012Are you interested in being part of ground-breaking studies of New Zealand fabric and cosmetic products?
Scientists from AgResearch’s Food and Bio-based Products group are looking for more local volunteers to participate in skin trials, testing new products made from uniquely New Zealand materials – for example woollen textiles or cosmetics made from dairy or other natural product extracts. More >>
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 | | AgResearch at National Agricultural Fieldays 2012
Wednesday 13 June 2012AgResearch’s role in the changing face of farming is the theme for AgResearch’s stand in the Premier Feature area at this year’s National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek.
AgResearch Chief Executive Dr Tom Richardson says it’s 20 years since the organisation, along with the other seven Crown Research Institutes, was established. More >>
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 | | Buttercup pest developing resistance to herbicides
Wednesday 16 May 2012Giant buttercup, a damaging European dairy pasture weed that is avoided by cattle due to its acrid taste, is costing New Zealand hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue as dairy farmers battle to control it.
The attractive yellow-flowered weed is developing resistance to modern herbicides, in part due to farm management practice, according to AgResearch scientists. More >>
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 | | AgResearch team finds missing link
Thursday 10 May 2012AgResearch scientists have made a breakthrough proving a long-held hypothesis that white clover originated as a hybrid of other clover ancestors, followed by a chance doubling of the chromosome number to restore fertility. More >>
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 | | Adding value is research leader's core purpose
Tuesday 1 May 2012By Ali Tocker - Waikato Times
The head of New Zealand's largest Crown research institute is determined to put the "research" back into AgResearch.
After 18 months at the helm of AgResearch, Hamilton-based chief executive Dr Tom Richardson said significant progress was being made in refocusing the organisation on its core purpose – adding value to the $21.3 billion agriculture sector. More >>
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 | | New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre 2nd Annual Conference
Friday 27 January 2012Moving towards solutions is the theme of the 2nd Annual Science Conference of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC). The Conference, to be held in Palmerston North on Tuesday January 31st, will bring together New Zealand scientists, international experts, policy makers and industry representatives to discuss New Zealand’s research programme to deliver and implement effective, practical solutions to mitigate agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. More >>
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| | EpiGen announces collaboration with Nestlé
Wednesday 23 November 2011The EpiGen Consortium, an international alliance of the world’s leading epigenetics researchers (AgResearch Limited, Auckland UniServices Limited, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and National University of Singapore, University of Southampton, Medical Research Council – Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit) is pleased to announce the creation of a research collaboration with Nestlé Research Centre in Switzerland. More >>
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 | | NZ science breakthrough: first virus-free pluripotent stem cells in cattle
Tuesday 6 September 2011International science publication PloS ONE, the world’s largest scientific journal, has published a research discovery by AgResearch scientists into cattle stem cells.
Microscope images - these bovine induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-like) cells express pluripotency markers TRA 1-81 (left) and SSEA-4 (right). More >>
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| | PestWebNZ gives farmers new tool to combat pests and weeds
Monday 13 June 2011New Zealand pastoral farmers are about to get their first access to a new tool to assist in weed and pest management. An advance release of “PestWebNZ” will be launched at the AgResearch exhibit at the National Agricultural Field Days at Mystery Creek, 15-18 June 2011. More >>
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 | | Biocontrol agent helps keep clover root weevil in check
Wednesday 8 June 2011The introduction of a biocontrol agent for clover root weevil in 2006 has done much to suppress the pest’s impacts, but vigilance is still critical to detect new infestations and ensure that the biocontrol agent quickly reaches the areas where it is needed. More >>
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 | | New research helps scientists break the pasture feed barrier
Wednesday 8 June 2011With funding from the Pastoral 21 feed programme (a joint investment by DairyNZ, Fonterra, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Ministry of Science and Innovation), new research has investigated how improvements in both the quantity and quality of pasture species could help farmers to break the pasture feed barrier. The research will feature at the AgResearch exhibit during the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek on 15-18 June 2011. More >>
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 | | Black Beetle Action Group receives key funding for new research in Waikato
Tuesday 7 June 2011The Waikato Black Beetle Action Group, in conjunction with AgResearch, has been awarded a three-year MAF Sustainable Farming Fund grant worth almost a half a million dollars over three years for a project entitled ‘Beating black beetle: developing pest-resistant dairy pastures in the Waikato.’ This grant is also matched by a similar level of cash and in-kind contributions from DairyNZ, seed companies, industry and farmers. More >>
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| | Smart Farming: New technology enables easier, accurate pasture measurements that maximise productivity
Friday 3 June 2011Funded by the Pastoral 21 feed programme (a joint investment by DairyNZ, Fonterra, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Ministry of Science and Innovation), a team of researchers led by Dr Robyn Dynes, Senior Scientist at AgResearch Lincoln, has been working to improve both pasture mass estimation techniques and real-time pasture quality measurements by developing what her colleague Dr Warren King calls “useful tools that could drive farm production by improving both the value and utilisation of pastures.” This research will feature at the AgResearch exhibit at the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek on 15-18 June 2011. More >>
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 | | Boosting milk production major focus of research
Monday 21 March 2011Significantly, increasing milk production is the theme of research being presented by AgResearch scientists at the NZBIO Conference 2011 in Auckland on 21 March 2011, focusing on enabling successful biotechnology. More >>
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| | Christchurch Earthquake: Lincoln campus to reopen Monday
Friday 25 February 2011Our thoughts continue to be with our friends and colleagues. There are now very few of our Lincoln people with whom we have not made direct personal contact. We do not have any reports of injury and do not at this stage have any information that would lead us to hold any specific fears for the safety of those we have not yet successfully contacted. More >>
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 | | Leading National Centre tackles global problems
Wednesday 23 February 2011Global concerns about food security, the rapid escalation in metabolic disorders such as diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome, and their impacts on fertility and health are issues that demand solutions. At the Centre for Reproduction and Genomics’ (CRG) 3rd Annual Scientific Research Colloquium being held tomorrow at AgResearch’s Invermay Campus at Mosgiel, a group of leading New Zealand and international scientists will present their latest research addressing these and other concerns. More >>
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| | Christchurch Earthquake: update for Lincoln staff
Wednesday 23 February 2011As the scale of the devastation of yesterday's earthquake becomes clear, our thoughts remain with all those within the Christchurch area. We have used a broadcast text service to reach as many employees as we can, while heeding the requests that only emergency phone calls are made. Further communication with Lincoln employees will be made via this text service. More >>
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| | New era for wool research
Thursday 13 January 2011AgResearch says the Government’s announcement yesterday of a $17.25m investment in a wool research consortium means the start of a new era in wool research. More >>
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 | | NZWTA acquires Textile Testing Laboratory
Tuesday 14 December 2010
The New Zealand Wool Testing Authority Ltd (NZWTA Ltd) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an unconditional agreement to purchase the assets and business associated with the Textile Testing Division of AgResearch, effective 20 December 2010. More >>
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 | | The 12 Days of Christmas at AgResearch
Thursday 2 December 2010
AgResearch’s singing scientist Dr Matthew Barnett has followed his success with the “Epigenome Song”, and the "I Love Fibre" song, with a version of “The 12 Days of Christmas”. More >>
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 | | Research shows that redback spiders could spread further in New Zealand
Monday 8 November 2010
Research published this month in the international journal Biological Invasions shows that Australian redback spiders (Latrodectus hasseltii), which are already established in Central Otago and New Plymouth, could become established in many other parts of New Zealand, particularly urban areas around major ports. More >>
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 | | Sheep farmers to benefit from parasite advance from AgResearch
Thursday 16 September 2010AgResearch today launched a revolutionary technology which measures natural immunity to internal parasites in sheep more quickly, accurately and easily than existing tests. The CARLA Saliva Test, which measures protective antibodies to worms, has been used on over 7,000 animals this year. Now this time-saving technology is available to all sheep breeders directly from AgResearch. More >>
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 | | Funding boosts TB research
Wednesday 11 August 2010Bovine tuberculosis (TB) research has received a boost with the award of a grant of $750,000 per annum for five years to AgResearch’s TB Immunology and Animal Health team from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. More >>
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 | | The Singing Scientist's new song
Wednesday 11 August 2010Dr Matthew Barnett, Senior Scientist in AgResearch’s Agri-Foods & Health Section who featured on TV and radio last year with his Epigenome Song, has written a second song based on his scientific work, this time about fibre. More >>
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| | Bayer Animal Health and Paraco agree on access to lead molecules
Wednesday 14 July 2010Bayer Animal Health GmbH and Paraco Technology Limited, a 100% owned subsidiary of AgResearch, New Zealand’s largest Crown Research Institute, today announced they have signed an option agreement allowing Bayer exclusive access to Paraco’s current lead molecules for testing and development in animal health. The focus in the foreseen activities lies in the research of parasiticides. More >>
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 | | Dr Tom Richardson appointed AgResearch CEO
Friday 18 June 2010The current head of the Rotorua-based CRI, New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd, trading as Scion, Dr Tom Richardson, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of AgResearch Ltd, after the resignation of Dr Andrew West. More >>
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| | Farmers to benefit from high tech quad bike collaboration
Tuesday 18 May 2010Farmers may soon be able to use their quad bikes to assess feed quality and pasture health. By riding over the paddocks, according to scientists, equipment on quad bikes could take the guesswork out of the assessment of nitrogen, energy and fibre levels of pasture. The results would be obtained much more quickly than sending grass samples to labs for full analysis. More >>
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| | AgResearch confirms downsizing
Tuesday 20 April 2010AgResearch today confirmed that between 35 and 36 scientific, engineering and technical positions will be disestablished at the Institute in the areas of textiles, wool biology, dairy foods, food safety, parasitology, reproductive biology, developmental biology, protein structure, biomembranes and bioprocessing. More >>
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| | New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre heating up
Friday 9 April 2010The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre launched in March by Prime Minister John Key is hosting a visit of the Global Research Alliance officials this week and Director Dr Harry Clark says this is a busy time as the Centre makes links and works with representatives of all the countries involved. More >>
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| | AgResearch study confirms spray chilling minimises venison weight loss
Tuesday 23 March 2010Spray chilling deer carcasses minimises weight loss without reducing the tenderness of venison, according to a recently released AgResearch study funded by DEEResearch and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). Spray chilling involves the intermittent spraying of cold water onto carcasses. More >>
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| | AgResearch welcomes CRI Taskforce recommendations
Thursday 4 March 2010AgResearch, New Zealand’s largest Crown Research Institute, congratulates the CRI Taskforce and its Chairman Neville Jordan for their very thorough analysis and incisive recommendations on how to enhance the value of New Zealand’s CRIs. More >>
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 | | Changing farming climate AgResearch focus
Wednesday 10 February 2010A caravan that measures nitrous oxide emissions, software that helps manage soil nutrients and a full programme of measures to keep lambs alive will be profiled by AgResearch at the Waimumu Southern Field days on 10–12 February on its stand at exhibit site 211 and 212. More >>
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| | Soil value could be on balance sheets and in nations' accounts
Tuesday 9 February 2010The first steps have been made in placing a financial value on the soil and services it provides to any given piece of land. This value would not only include the ability of the soil to provide water and nutrients for plant growth and the physical support for plants, animals and humans, but also the role the soil plays in regulating the wider environment in which we live. More >>
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| | Centre to tackle big issues in 2010 Research gathering
Friday 5 February 2010A range of internationally recognised scientists, including Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will address a range of cutting edge issues in reproductive and genetic science at the second Annual Scientific Research Colloquium held by the Centre for Reproduction and Genomics (CRG) a collaboration between the University of Otago and AgResearch, New Zealand’s leading primary industry research organisation. More >>
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| | AgResearch CEO resigns
Thursday 4 February 2010Today Dr Andrew West, Chief Executive of AgResearch Ltd, announced his intention to resign his position effective 30 June after six years in the role. AgResearch is the New Zealand Government’s principal research institute focused on this country’s dairy, red-meat and wool industries. AgResearch Chairman, Sam Robinson, has advised that the Board is not yet in a position to decide on the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive and will announce this in due course. Dr West has agreed to continue to lead AgResearch until mid 2010 to support the Board with the transition to a new Chief Executive. More >>
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 | | Destructive clover root weevils found on Taieri Plain
Tuesday 26 January 2010AgResearch has discovered the clover root weevil (CRW) on the Taieri Plain. AgResearch scientists are currently sampling local farms to see how well established the pest is in the area, before deciding how to address the infestation. AgResearch Scientist Dr Barbara Barratt says the weevils are small and hard to see, but farmers can assist by informing AgResearch if they see the typical weevil feeding damage on their white clover. More >>
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| | NZ scientific breakthrough: Heart rate regulator ion channel discovered
Thursday 14 January 2010AgResearch scientists, working with Victoria University and a scientist in the USA, have discovered that calcium-activated-potassium ion channels, present in only small amounts in the heart, have a significant role in modulating heart rate. The finding, once better understood, may open the way to pharmacological treatment for hypertension and for heart rate control during surgery. More >>
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