AgResearch

STUDY CONFIRMS MORE HERBICIDE RESISTANCE: Weeds resistant to herbicides are becoming more common across the world, and New Zealand is no different. While resistant weeds have been present in New Zealand for decades, only a few years ago the first field surveys for them were done to estimate their prevalence. These surveys were done in key crops at high risk of having resistant weeds, including vineyards. Vineyards and orchards rely on glyphosate especially, which they tend to use two-three times a year. As a consequence of repeated glyphosate use over several years, two species of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum and Lolium perenne) evolved resistance. The vineyard survey revealed that more than half of the vineyards in Marlborough had glyphosate resistant ryegrass (seen at a lesser extent in other regions). Also, during the survey our scientists were alerted to a potential new case of resistance in wild carrot (Daucus carota L.). A newly published study by Zachary Ngow, Trevor James, Christopher Buddenhagen & Deborah Hackell — https://lnkd.in/gF4zWDTR — presents evidence to confirm that yes, wild carrot populations are becoming resistant to glyphosate in Marlborough vineyards. Wild carrot is the weedy version of the cultivated carrot and is most often observed along roadsides and disturbed areas. Wild carrot isn’t a particularly bad weed, but with glyphosate resistance becomes difficult to control. It has a white, wiry, tap root and is insect-pollinated (which can spread pollen for kilometres). Seed spread can be prevented by good management but spread of resistance through pollen can be more difficult. Viticulturalists who notice new patches of wild carrot on their rows should be vigilant and use a different tactic (hand-pulling, other herbicides) to prevent the plant from establishing. Herbicide resistance is a repetitive phenomenon, which can be prevented and dealt with through good management. While we have surveyed some key crops, there are many that we haven’t been able to look at yet. Other fruit orchards such as kiwifruit and stonefruit will likely have similar risks as vineyards. We often hear about glyphosate (the active ingredient in products like RoundUp) in the media. Glyphosate has been banned (or is being phased out) in some countries due to concerns about safety and impacts on human health. However, in New Zealand, glyphosate is still approved for use. As recently as last year, New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority considered whether there were grounds to reassess use of glyphosate and glyphosate-containing substances, and concluded it is safe to use if the existing rules around its use are followed. #herbicides #herbicideresistance #vineyards #glyphosate #plantscience #plantresearch #weeds #weedmanagement #weedcontrol #newzealand

The Quorum Sense 'Hay Bale Grazing Handbook' introduces hay bale grazing as a winter livestock management technique gaining traction across Aotearoa. Originating from North America, this method involves strategically placing hay bales across pasture paddocks before winter. Livestock then graze on both the hay and the underlying pasture in controlled sections, typically moving every three days. The key benefits of hay bale grazing include: ?? Soil Health Improvement: The residual hay and pasture form a protective layer, reducing soil compaction and erosion. This organic matter enhances soil structure and fertility. ??? Environmental Protection: Maintaining soil cover during winter minimises nutrient runoff, leading to decreased nitrogen leaching into waterways. ?? Animal Welfare: Livestock have continuous access to feed, reducing stress and promoting natural foraging behaviors. The hay also gives better thermal comfort for the animals and promotes increased rumination and body temperature leading to better maintenance of weight. ?? Operational Efficiency: Pre-placing hay bales reduces daily labor and machinery use during winter, leading to time and fuel savings as well as reduced pugging and heavy machinery damage to pasture.. The handbook also highlights a study by AgResearch at Freedom Acres in Southland called 'The Soil Amour Project' that compared hay bale grazing to traditional wintering on kale crops. Findings indicated that bale grazing resulted in lower nitrogen leaching and better soil conditions, supporting its environmental and operational advantages. And that's just a small fraction of information highlighting the benefits! Keep an eye out here for some bale grazing events near you, as last year they were hugely successful. You can find a free downloadable PDF on our website here: https://lnkd.in/g5PZbtzn

When he’s not busy writing music, out with his camera capturing amazing photos, enjoying music from Dreamville artists, or enjoying a game of football, Josh Joseph can be found working with ruminant livestock to help reduce methane emissions.? Josh has been a PhD student at AgResearch since June 2024, hear more about his journey below: ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????/????????’?? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ??????????????????? Being inspired by Joel A. Barker’s famous maxim “vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. However, vision with action can change the world”, I began my journey into science in secondary school where I always excelled in agriculture, physics and biology. My interests were the main reason I continued on to study Animal Science at University, and during my Batchelor's dissertation I developed a strong interest in animal nutrition and microbiology. My experiences throughout my MSc in Biotechnology fostered a passion for research and laid the foundation for my current role at AgResearch. ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ??????? Currently, my research is focusing on identifying specific groups of microbes in the rumen (largest part of animal’s stomach) that play a role in lactate metabolism and their influence on methane emissions. This involves genomic and microbiological techniques to identify key players in these metabolic pathways. ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ????/???? ???????????????? New Zealand is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which is a significant contributor to climate change. My research in the rumen microbiome could provide insights into developing strategies that reduce methane emissions from ruminants, aligning with national/global sustainability objectives. Also, the productivity of ruminant livestock depends on the rumen microbiota. Therefore, by reducing methane emissions which translates to improved animal productivity, farmers can lower their operational costs and enhance their economic viability. This is particularly important as global markets increasingly demand sustainable practices and products.? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????????? As a young scientist, I am at the forefront of exploring innovative solutions to contemporary agricultural challenges. Sharing my findings and insights can empower Kiwis to make informed decisions about their farming practices and dietary choices, helping the livelihoods of farmers and contributing to the overall health of the New Zealand ecosystem. To read the full article on Melissa, follow the link attached! #EarlyCareerScientist #AgResearchEarlyCareerScientists #AnimalWelfare #RuminantLivestock #ReducingMethaneEmissions #AgResearch #AgResearchNZ

How about a dried meat flake for a snack, or for some seasoning on your favourite dish? Our senior scientist Renyu Zhang walked into the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand's inaugural "Dragon's Den" on Tuesday to pitch this idea, and the judges liked what they heard, awarding it the winner from the new ideas and innovations put forward for the red meat industry. The Dragon’s Den final took place at the joint AgResearch-MIA Meat Innovation Workshop in Palmerston North, where contestants each had five minutes to pitch their ideas to the judging panel of industry leaders, followed by five minutes of Q&A with the judges and audience. Renyu's pitch was for transforming lower value, mechanically-deboned meat into a meat flake with high unami — savoury flavour — which would be stable at room temperature and have uses as a protein enhancer and snack food. MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says all the finalists deserve credit, however, Renyu’s idea stood out "both for the innovative process proposed and the opportunities for global interest in such a product". Renyu says he is honoured to chosen as the winner, and grateful to the MIA for the opportunity. “We have exciting opportunities to turn low-value streams from the meat industry into high-value, uniquely Kiwi products that can strengthen our global presence and add to our unique Kiwi taste profile. I look forward to working with industry partners to bring this vision to life.” Narsaa Na Mustafa Farouk Read more at: https://lnkd.in/geYdFGpR #redmeat #meatsnacks #meatscience #beef #newzealand

SUPREME AWARD: Very proud of our subsidiary Grasslanz Technology, announced today as the supreme winner of the Science New Zealand Awards for 2025! ?? Grasslanz is a plant technology company that has been a major contributor to the success of New Zealand agriculture for more than two decades. Fabulous to have both the long-serving former chief executive John Caradus, and the new chief executive Megan Skiffington, on hand to receive the supreme award at the awards ceremony this afternoon; with Kim Wallace presenting. Credit also goes to all of the scientists whose discoveries and research have been developed by Grasslanz, and the partners such as PGG Wrightson Seeds that have helped to get the new technologies into the hands of farmers and growers. Congrats also to all of the category winners announced today! #science #newzealand #aotearoa #sciencenewzealand #scienceawards #pasture #grasslands #nzfarming #planttechnology #plantscience #endophytes

We're underway at the Science New Zealand Awards for 2025........??????. Our own Sue Bidrose, chair of Science New Zealand, spoke about the importance of celebrating excellence at a time of significant change for our science sector

Ariana Estoras CInstD MSc from AgResearch is now on stage, sharing how organisations can build genuine, sustainable collaborations that honour Māori values and create real economic opportunities. By aligning business goals with Māori aspirations, these partnerships drive stronger outcomes, greater social impact, and long-term success for all involved. An important conversation on the power of cultural knowledge, resources, and relationships in business. #MāoriLeadership #Leadership #LeadershipInstituteANZ #Conference #Summit

The natural odour resistance of wool garments is well known for keeping the wearer fresher for longer. But according to a new Australian Wool Innovation study led by AgResearch, wool’s odour resistance also benefits the environment because less energy is needed to launder wool garments compared to polyester or cotton garments during their use phase. The study used human volunteers to determine the number of days of normal wear that similar garments of different fibre types could be worn before they needed laundering, based only on the participants’ assessment of the garments’ odour. Merino wool had a 76% lower energy consumption than polyester for the mid-layer, 68% lower energy consumption for the base-layer, and 37% lower energy consumption for socks. The research was carried out carried out in conjunction with Forbruksforskningsinstituttet SIFO / Consumption Research Norway (SIFO). Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dTzg8vP8 #wool #woollenwear #woollen #MerinoWool #clothing #naturalfibres #odourcontrol #bodyodour #research #agresearchnz #AgResearch Stewart Collie

The 2025 Meat Innovation Workshop is underway in Palmerston North today, with plenty of quality speakers including AgResearch scientist Vincent Desaulniers Brousseau (pictured below) on life cycle analysis and nutrition. This year the workshop, which we jointly host with the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand, in collaboration with Deer Industry New Zealand, includes a "Dragon's Den" component for people to pitch their fresh ideas or innovations for the red meat sector. #meatindustry #redmeat #nzfarming #newzealand #meatscience #palmerstonnorth #foodscience #foodscienceandtechnology Beef + Lamb New Zealand

?? Excited to share our latest review on the application of #metatranscriptomics in understanding the #microbiome in #food and #nutrition science! ??? With our fantastic team at AgResearch, we explores how metatranscriptomics can offer new insights across multiple fields—from food science (e.g., #flavorformation and #foodenzymology) to nutrition science (e.g., #dietaryfibers, #proteins, #minerals, and #probiotics). We also highlight the power of integrating metatranscriptomics with other technologies to solve key research questions and advance the field. ?? Dive into more details here: https://lnkd.in/dPBhwWNE (Metabolites MDPI) Nina (Christina) Butowski Yash Dixit Marlon M. Reis MDPI MDPI Author Services