AgrotechNew Zealand agritech firm Hectre has opened a lab for a near NZ$5 million programme to develop a hyperspectral camera that reads fruit maturity, starch and firmness so packhouses can decide what to store and ship.
AgrotechAgriZeroNZ has invested NZ$17.7 million more in ArkeaBio, which targets a 2028 launch for a vaccine cutting cow methane by about 15%, and NZ$5.1 million in BioLumic's higher-fat, lower-methane ryegrass.
AgrotechHalf of surveyed farms now have mobile coverage over less than half their land, one in seven had to replace working equipment, and only two of 126 reported problems have been fixed.
FruitsThe FTA in force from 20 October gives Indian exports duty-free access to New Zealand, ties import quotas for apples, kiwifruit and Manuka honey to productivity plans, and keeps dairy, sugar and edible oils out.
AgrotechMycofeast has acquired Daisy Lab, a New Zealand startup that makes cow-free whey proteins by precision fermentation, led by a bovine lactoferrin programme it now plans to scale up and file with regulators.
AgrotechCropX will equip the Lincoln University McCain Foods NextGen Regenerative Farm with soil moisture probes, weather stations, satellite imagery and its AI agronomy platform to compare regenerative and conventional systems over a full potato rotation.
VegetablesPeter Reynolds, whose family has grown potatoes, onions and pumpkins around Pukekohe for generations, received New Zealand horticulture's highest honour for his work for growers, research and environmental care on farms.
LivestockUpdated Veterinary Council guidance from 1 January 2027 expects antibiotics at dry-off to be justified cow by cow; DairyNZ says fewer than 5% of herds gain from treating every cow.
EnvironmentOur Atmosphere and Climate 2026 says glacier ice fell from 56 to 30 cubic kilometres since 1997, and projects drier productive land, heavier rain and longer wildfire seasons.
LivestockNew Zealand meat cooperative Alliance plans a dividend and supply rebate worth up to $20 million in late 2026, with up to $20 million more next year subject to livestock flows.
After a record $113 million operating profit, Pamu expects $77-87 million in 2027 because higher feed, fertiliser and fuel prices add nearly $30 million of costs, though production targets hold.
Facing an exodus of growers, a forum of FAR, Federated Farmers, MPI and growers agreed priorities from profitability to selling more New Zealand grain to dairy farms.
LivestockEar and leg sensors and GPS collars on cows at 27 New Zealand dairy farms linked personality to output: curious cows gave 0.67 litres a day more milk and spent longer grazing and lying.
