New thinking
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 14, 2022
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Spuds focus of Lincoln research
GAME-CHANGER: A new research partnership with Lincoln is spuddy good news for the NZ potato industry.
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ITH the help of Lincoln University, Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge hopes to solve many of the problems growers and industry face here. The memorandum of understanding that’s just been signed includes a centre of excellence for potato research and extension where scientists can chip away at solutions to the challenges confronted by spud growers. The research conducted at the centre will focus on working with potato growers to identify and understand the problems confronting them and to devise solutions to those problems. It will secure a sustainable future for the potato industry, PNZ chief executive Chris Claridge said. “Solving grower and industry problems is our key purpose, this partnership will enable us to do so more effectively,” Claridge said. While partnering initially with Lincoln University, Claridge said PNZ will be reaching out to other strategic partners to work with the industry to build a new way of organising research for the primary sector. “Zespri has done something similar but at a commodity level
Potatoes NZ is calling its partnership with Lincoln University a game-changer for the industry here. Annette Scott found out what the programme will mean for growers. we will be first to do it,” he said. “The key purpose is to build research capability and capacity over the long-term, we are talking decades. “The model we plan will look at how to attract young talent to the industry and how to retain researchers. “Attracting and maintaining talent is the major issue worldwide.” The NZ potato industry is valued at more than $1 billion a year, with 175 growers across the country and multiple frozen chip and crisp processors. “We’re very excited to be involved with Lincoln University, especially with their track record in agricultural research and education,” PNZ chair Stuart Wright said. Lincoln University associate professor of plant science Clive Kaiser will be the establishment director for the potato research that he says will be extension-led and grower-centric. The fundamental tenet of the concept of extension is to extend the knowledge gained through research, typically conducted by universities and research centres, to growers in the field. Solutions will be developed through discovering new knowledge, as well as by using existing knowledge in new ways. This will be underpinned
by strong local, national and international collaborations. “This cooperative, collaborative research approach will have immediate, significant and longlasting benefits for NZ growers,” Kaiser said. Before joining Lincoln University Kaiser was interim director of the Hermiston Agricultural and Research Extension Centre (HAREC), a world-renowned research centre for potatoes based at Oregon State University.
Being explicit about our strengths could mean greater market opportunities for growers. Chris Claridge Potatoes NZ He shares PNZ’s vision to establish a similar grower-centric, extension-led research capability at Lincoln where the centre’s researchers and collaborating partners will contribute to an open, collaborative network of NZ and international researchers focused on ensuring the growth
and success of the NZ potato industry. “Like HAREC, the Lincolnbased centre of excellence will be a grower-centric knowledge, expertise and research hub designed to support the potato industry and growers to address their grand challenges, as well as to help them identify market growth opportunities and successfully commercialise those opportunities,” he said. HAREC is presently the go-to global hub where potato growers from NZ and all over the world go for advice, education, problemsolving and inspiration. “Now NZ growers and other potato industry participants will be able to find that support and practical assistance at the new centre at Lincoln University.” As a specialist land-based university, Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University continues to play a key role in shaping a more productive and sustainable future for Aotearoa NZ. Vice-chancellor Professor Grant Edwards said Lincoln University is committed to building collaborative partnerships with industry and research providers to achieve innovative and sustainable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing landbased challenges.
“This determination aligns completely with PNZ’s ambition to build a secure and sustainable future for Aotearoa’s potato growing industry,” Edwards said. In the meantime, PNZ is finalising its plan for the year ahead based on a sustainability strategy and a new framework for research and extension. Claridge said global and domestic consumer demand fuel the pace of change, including regulation. He said the silver lining in the covid pandemic has been a chance to prioritise activities based on the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainability informed by grower insights, technical advisory panels and strong governance. “Though challenging, this is an exciting time for our industry, we already have quality standards and a low environmental impact compared to many other staple foods and vegetables,” Claridge said. “Being explicit about our strengths as an industry could mean greater market opportunities for growers. “It could also allow us to succeed in the face of changing consumer expectations.” The revised PNZ strategy and annual business plan will be released next month.
