News
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022
Southland oat milk producer gets Govt boost Staff reporter SOUTHLAND oat milk producer New Zealand Functional Foods will receive $6 million in Government funding to develop a manufacturing facility. Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash says plantbased milk alternatives are a fast-growing segment of domestic and international consumer markets. “The amount spent by Kiwis on plant-based milks almost tripling from $52m in 2017 to $144m in 2019 – so the demand is definitely there. “We know that oats grow well in Southland and being low in water use, land use and emissions, they are an excellent raw ingredient for an environmentally sustainable alternative-
milk option. Producing oat milk locally is a lucrative way to diversify our strength as a quality food producer.” The investment will help provide the capital needed by New Zealand Functional Foods to build a specialised, largescale processing plant at Makarewa, with capacity for producing up to 80m litres of plant-based milk a year. The money comes from the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund and Nash says it’s part of the Government strategy to develop a low-emissions, highly-skilled economy that responds to global demands. “I am confident that this new facility will add to the reputation of Southland and New Zealand as a real player in the sustainable food and beverage sector,” Nash says.
Time to teach the next generation
REWARDING: Marie Burke, picture here with husband Rob, says Farmer Time is a great programme and she really encourage fellow farmers to sign up.
FARMERS are being sought for a new initiative that will give primary and intermediate school pupils a better understanding of food production. Farmer Time sees farmers link up with classrooms through video call technology to talk about growing food and fibre. Pupils can regularly chat live with their matched farmer, gaining an understanding of farming across the seasons and providing real-world examples of what they’re learning during the school year. Beef + Lamb Inc chief executive Kit Arkwright is keen to see food producers from all sectors get involved. “Farmer Time puts actual farmers in front of children and gives them genuine insights into how our food is being produced. The feedback from both teachers and farmers has been incredible.” A pilot programme, which involves eight farmer-teacher
pairings across six schools with approximately 184 pupils, ran across term one, with many pairing staying with the programme in term two. Marie Burke, a sheep, beef and crop farmer from Tairāwhiti-Gisborne region, is one of the farmers participating in the pilot. She is paired with a school in Orewa, Auckland. “Farmer Time is such a great programme and I really encourage fellow farmers to sign up. The teachers and children we’ve been matched with have loved learning about what we do and how we grow food. “My husband was initially unsure when I first mentioned Farmer Time, but he’s really enjoyed the interactions we’ve had with the class we’re matched with, and is now almost a bigger fan than I am.” Food producers who want to get involved or find out more information can visit: www. farmertime.co.nz.
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