...is back!

Learn about on farm scenarios, use real life case studies and understand what it takes to work in the ag sector in New Zealand. Students also have the opportunity to apply for our Ag&Ed Innovation Challenge, where 20 lucky students will work in teams to address key issues in the ag sector.

Applications are now open!

How much water does a farm need?

Farm water usage is looked at in this Agricademy video. After watching the video complete the online quiz to test your knowledge.

bit.ly/agricademy-water

Have a go:

1. To know how much water is needed per day on a dairy farm, what do you need to know the numbers of ?

2. To measure how much water is coming into the holding tank at the milking shed, what information do you need to know?

3. You can then use this figure and a formula to work out how much water is coming into the farm each day. True or False?

4. What might affect the amount of water coming into the holding tank over time?

Resources For Educators

Parents and teachers sign up to receive Ag&Ed in your inbox. agrihq.co.nz/our-education-resources

Thinking about a career in the primary sector?

Whether you’re just starting out, or looking for that next step, there are education and training options. Some training options are even on the job, which means you’ll upskill and learn while you are earning.

Other courses are free of charge, or have support options available.

From the Editor

Neal Wallace Senior reporter

THE National Party did us all a favour last week by resurrecting the debate on genetic modification.

Its policy of a more permissive approach for genetic modification (GM) is a reminder that we need every tool available given the scale of the challenge from rising production costs and environmental and climate change threats.

It is unrealistic to think we can efficiently and economically confront these with only existing or new versions of our current tools.

The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification in 2001 suggested we take a precautionary approach in its adoption, but subsequent legislation was so restrictive it effectively amounted to a ban.

Technology has since advanced and the rest of the world has embraced the use of GM.

In 2019 the United States planted 71 million hectares of GM crops, Brazil 53 million, Argentina 24 million, Canada 12.5 million, China 3.2 million, Australia 600,000ha and Spain 100,000ha.

The European Union has launched a review of its GM policy, which was cautious and backed by legislation that tightly restricted its use.

The EU appears to be acknowledging the technology has evolved and can be part of future solutions.

The use of GM has moved beyond inserting genes or DNA from one organism into another.

The 2012 development of CRISPR technology allows the precision editing of individual genes and the influence of gene expression within an organism’s DNA.

A study published last year in the NZ Journal of Agricultural Research found that markets are more accepting of its use in food production, and using GM plants will not have long-term deleterious effects in overseas markets.

The authors advocate regulating benefitrisk issues associated with GM end-use products rather than the processes used in its development.

The substantial challenges facing the world and the scientific advances made mean this technology can no longer be ignored.

But, given our deserved status as a preferred food supplier, this is not to advocate its unrestrained use. Markets and consumers will be the final arbiters.

As the Meat Industry Association sensibly said, the adoption of GM needs to be carefully assessed against risks to market access.

“We need to ensure that we take global consumers on the journey with us. We are confident that this can be done with the right regulatory control and oversight framework in place,” MIA CEO Sirma Karapeeva said.

There is already GM technology under development that shows potential in addressing some challenges, such has AgResearch’s HME GM ryegrass.

It has been shown in the lab to be drought tolerant and reduce methane emissions by 23%, but because of our restrictive rules, field trials have to be held in the US and Australia.

This also indicates that its use in NZ is highly unlikely under current regulations. Provided its performance stacks up on farm and it meets the “will not damage markets” criteria, the use of HME ryegrass in NZ seems a no-brainer.

This is especially so given the government wants to charge a levy on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, yet farmers currently have few tools to reduce those emissions.

People are generally cautious about GM and no doubt some will continue to oppose its introduction, so selling it as safe and useful technology will be challenging.

But given its potential contribution to solving the world’s most pressing threats, surely it is a challenge worth pursuing.