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Agriculture & Environment Sections
There are four sections within the
Agriculture & Environment Group:
Animal Health
This Section employs about 60 scientific
staff and pursues basic and applied research in parasitic and infectious
diseases of pastoral livestock. Major focus areas include gastrointestinal parasites,
tuberculosis, Johne’s disease and mastitis. Research outcomes include
vaccines, delivery systems, improved diagnostic tests, drug development,
drug target discovery and developing livestock management systems that
minimise the impact of animal disease. The group has cutting-edge expertise in parasite
biology, drench resistance in gut parasites, ruminant immunology, molecular
biology of animal pathogens and pathogenesis of bacterial diseases.
Animal health research and development is conducted
at three sites - the Hopkirk Research Institute, a new joint venture between
AgResearch and Massey University (go to www.agresearch.co.nz/hopkirk
for more information), the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious
Diseases and at the Invermay Agricultural Centre.
Section Manager: Dr Wayne
Hein
Email: Phone: +64 4 5290 560
Biocontrol, Biosecurity & Bioprocessing
The section’s core business is the
reduction of pest and weeds on New Zealand farms. From that base, it has
developed strong capability in biodiversity maintenance and biosecurity
- the exclusion, control and eradication of invasive species to New Zealand.
The section is also strong in modelling and prediction of pest impacts.
Research includes the environmental safety of pest and weed control options,
including tritrophic impacts of novel biotechnology, such as modified
crops. Development of biopesticides has led to the development of a formulation
and biomaterials capability, which covers both agricultural and health
products. Inclusion of engineering capabilities allows the section to
range from fundamental research I genetics to scale-up production capabilities
for biomaterials. The key focus areas are:
- developing sustainable methods to reduce invasive
pest and weeds, including built environments
- developing novel biotechnological solutions
to pest and weed problems
- determining environmental impacts of tomorrow’s
pest control technologies
- developing novel products from biological
compounds
- scale-up engineering and commercialisation
of production
- assisting clients with production, prediction
and policy
Section Manager: Dr Glyn Francis
Email:
Phone: +64 3 325 9989
Agricultural Systems
Our focus is on creating more profitable and sustainable farms and agribusinesses. Systems thinking is an integral part of our R&D philosophy and approach. Agricultural Systems Section has core capabilities in the following areas:
- Pasture and animal productivity and efficient use of inputs (e.g. water, nutrients, new technologies) within farming systems
- Animal behaviour and objective measures of animal welfare
- Social research on adoption, decision making, e-learning and policy design
- Biophysical and economic modelling of current and future agricultural systems
- Farm systems (sheep & beef, dairy and deer) design and analysis, including consideration of current and future issues
- Analysis of agribusinesses and their value chains with respect to structure, conduct and performance
- Assessment of the multiple (economic, environmental and social) drivers influencing managers of agricultural systems, and of strategies for achieving an integrated resolution
Section Manager: Dr Greg
Lambert
Email:
Phone: +64 6 351 8023
Climate, Land & Environment
Enhancing understanding of rumen ecology leading
to more efficient fibre breakdown, healthier fat production, enhanced
food flavours, just to name a few; Developing methodologies to underpin
methane emissions inventory and emission control mechanisms, seeking genetic
markers for behavioural and stress traits and developing behavioural processes
to underpin environmentally benign and ethical practises. Comprises Rumen
Microbiology, Ruminant Greenhouse Gases Abatement and Welfare and Behavioural
Science teams.
Section Manager: Dr Harry Clark
Email:
Phone: +64 6 351 8111
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