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Try lamb, says joint promotional group
A joint promotional push is getting United States consumers to try lamb.
Project partners involved with the Tri-Lamb Group, which has a goal to get more Americans eating lamb, are meeting with two Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ Ltd) farmer directors.
Central South Island director, Anne Munro and Southern South Island director, Leon Black are in Idaho, representing New Zealand sheep farmers alongside their fellow Tri- Lamb Group representatives from Australia and the United States.
B+LNZ Ltd chief executive Dr Scott Champion says the collaborative promotion by the three sheep producing nations is built around the understanding that the profitability and sustainability of the lamb market in the US is important for farmers in all three countries.
“If more Americans are eating lamb, then each country stands to gain from the opportunities that increased consumption will provide.
“The programme includes online food and nutrition blogs that share lamb recipes and podcasts showing how to build simple and healthy lamb meals for the family. They’re tracking a lot of interest.
“This week the Group reviewed last year’s programme and considered continuing support for the initiative, called ‘Making Lamb Famous in the United States’.”
For the year ended 30 June, the United States was New Zealand’s third largest sheepmeat market by value (NZ$256 million), behind the United Kingdom (NZ$534 million) and Germany ($NZ275 million) and ahead of China (NZ$247 million).
View Lean on Lamb online food blog.
I’ll just print me a steak …
Traditional meat exporters will need to consider future protein competition coming from outside the box in the future, as new technology is attracting innovation funding around the world.
One such piece of research, by a US company called Modern Meadow, has this week gained between US$250,000-300,000 for a tissue engineering project. Modern Meadow is said to be developing a fundamentally new approach to meat and leather production, “which is based on the latest advances in tissue engineering and causes no harm to animals.”
The news was announced by the US-based Thiel Foundation, set up by one of the founders of PayPal Peter Thiel. It was one of three new grants, awarded through its Breakout Labs programme. This is a revolutionary revolving fund to promote innovation in science and technology. The two other grants went to medical and therapeutic innovations.
According to Breakout, Modern Meadow co-founders Gabor and Andras Forgas respectively invented and helped to commercialise bio-printing, a technology that builds tissues and organ structures based on the computer-controlled delivery of cells in three dimensions. The two previously co-founded Oganovo,a a San Diego-based regenerative medicine company which applies bio-printing to a range of medical applications including drug discovery, drug testing and ultimately transplant tissues. They plan to use the Breakout Labs funding to apply the latest advances in tissue engineering beyond medicine to produce novel consumer biomaterials, including an edible cultured meat prototype that can provide a humane and sustainable source of animal protein to consumers around the world.
“Breakout Labs is a much-needed source of funding and support for emerging technologies like ours,” says Andras Forgacs. “Investors across the board have become more risk-averse and yet early funding is critical to enable truly innovative ideas.”
Modern Meadow, based in Missouri, is combining regenerative medicine with 3D printing to imagine an economic and compassionate solution to a global problem, says Lindy Fisbhurne, Breakout Labs’ executive director. “We hope our support will help propel them through the early stage of their development so they can turn their inspired vision to reality.”
Launched in November 2011, Breakout Labs provides teams of researchers in early-stage companies with the means to pursue their most radical goals in science and technology. To date, the fund has awarded a total of nine grants, of up to $350,000 each. Breakout Labs accepts and funds proposals on a rolling basis.
Although very early days as yet, the concept supported by the fund could bring printing your own steak for the barbie nearer to reality, but just don’t expect it in the near future.
The Modern Meadow innovation is not alone in attempting to solve the world’s future protein needs. New Zealand’s Riddet Institute is also working on the joint PROTEOS project with its counterpart Wageningen University in The Netherlands, “formulating novel solutions that involve extending and using more effectively future animal-based protein sources, transforming the protein supply chain” – essentially growing meat in the laboratory. Project plans involving staff from both organisations will be finalised this year.
New protein science team in Christchurch
Link
Industrial Research Ltd is setting up a new protein science team, led by Andrew Muscroft-Taylor, that will be based at the University of Canterbury’s Biomolecular Interaction Centre in Christchurch and will be assisted with PhD and masters students from the university. In addition, IRL’s unit in Christchurch will also include a Manufacturing Innovation Group that will be assisting companies solve their problems with engineering.
A Stuff article ‘Science team formed to help firms‘ includes an interesting case-study about IRL’s work with gelatine factory Gelita NZ, which makes the product from cow-hide at it’s Woolston plant, which was badly hit during the Christchurch earthquakes. After rebuilding the factory, Gelita/IRL are now turning their attention to reducing gelatine odour which would help it target the pharmaceutical industry with gelatine capsules, which require a higher quality of gelatine. Read more …
New science adviser for MPI
Dr Ian Ferguson MNZM has been appointed to the newly created position of Departmental Science Adviser for the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) and will take up his part-time role from mid-September.
Announcing the appointment, MPI deputy director of policy Paul Stocks said that it is an exceptionally important role for the Ministry. “I am confident that Dr Ferguson will provide strong science leadership to ensure that MPI is well connected across government and with the science community and will continue to provide high quality scientific advice.”
The role focuses on the key areas of quality assurance of science inputs into regulatory decision making; strategic direction for science investment; and ensuring MPI is able to effectively deal with emerging risks and opportunities.
Dr Ferguson is well known in the science community, both nationally and internationally. He has been the chief scientist of crown research institute Plant and Food Research (and formerly HortResearch) since 2003. He has a science background in plant and fruit physiology, postharvest and horticultural science, biochemistry and biotechnology. He has also been a member of the New Zealand government funding and review panels and bodies, including being on the Marsden Council and the Rutherford Discovery Fellowship panel.
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser says the role is critical for government if New Zealand is to maximise the benefits of evidence-based policy.
The role is for a three year term and is part-time. Dr Ferguson will continue in a science role with Plant and Food Research.
Sheep scanning recognised as revolutionary tool
A revolutionary tool for reproductive management of sheep in New Zealand, which has contributed to the country’s improved meat production over the past two decades, has been recognised in the inaugural Sheep Industry Awards, alongside the top flocks and sires for genetic merit.
About 200 people attended an event in Invercargill earlier this month to celebrate sheep farming excellence and to witness the presentation of nine awards covering genetics, production and business innovation. Results of the genetics-related awards were calculated based on breeders’ performance in SIL-ACE (Advanced Central Evaluation) – the large-scale, across flock and breed genetic evaluation of more than 280 ram breeding flocks.
The Silver Fern Farms award for sheep industry innovation went to Rowan Farmer, who was responsible for introducing and promoting sheep pregnancy and eye-muscle scanning technology to New Zealand.
Farmer set up Stockscan in 1991. The primary aim was to scan sheep for eye muscle area, but Farmer’s experience with quarantined sheep at Invermay gave him an insight into the management benefits of pregnancy scanning. Since then, the practice has expanded to include the identification of twins and triplets. Scanning has revolutionised the reproductive management of sheep throughout New Zealand.
In addition, the country’s top performing breeders of meat yielding sheep were honoured. Joseph and Judy Barker’s terminal sire flock ‘The Burn’ Texel stud in Mid-Canterbury rated highest for genetic merit across the SIL-ACE evaluation, The dual purpose (ewe breed) flock rated highest for genetic merit was ‘MNCC’, Edward Dinger’s Coopworth stud in the Waikato. The same flock also won the Alliance High Performance Flock award.
B+LNZ geneticist Mark Young says the process of identifying the top-performing flocks involved analysing the top 25-50 percent of rams for each specified set of traits, before then adjusting the results to account for variatons in flock size.
“This exercise also identified highly-rated sires that were making a big impact in industry. The B+LNZ Super Sires are rated in the top 10 percent for genetic merit in indexes of merit across key traits. They are also rams which have been used a lot, so have the most progeny,” says Young.
The B+LNZ Ltd Award for an individual or business making a significant contribution to the New Zealand sheep industry went to Dr Jock Allison ONZM. Two of the highlights of his career, from the sheep industry viewpoint, have been his work with the Booroola Merino which led to the discovery of a major gene fecundity gene and for importing the East Friesian sheep to this country.
The idea to hold an awards ceremony was initiated by B+LNZ Farmer Council Member and ram breeder Russell Welsh. Welsh says the dairy industry’s track record of celebrating success promoted him to suggest the awards ceremony. “It highlights best practice and,by default, that lifts all farmers.
B+LNZ Ltd chairman Mike Petersen says it is great to see farmers driving an initiative which celebrates the sheep industry, while also highlight the immense value of SIL’s database to the sector.
Other award winners on the night were:
- AgITO Business Farm Trainer of the Year –Smedley Station and Cadet Training Farm.
- Dual Purpose plus Worm FEC Flock (Index: Reproduction + lamb Growth + Adult Size + Wool + Parasite Resistance) – Nithdale Romney flock, owned by A Tripp of Gore.
- Dual Purpose plus Facial Eczema Flock (Index: Reproduction + lamb Growth + Adult Size + Wool + FE Tolerance) – ARDG Romney Flock, R & G Alexander of Tirau.
- Beef + Lamb New Zealand Super Sires – in addition, top sires were also picked out in six categories: terminal; dual purpose*; dual purpose high performance*; dual purpose plus meat yield*; dual purpose plus worm FED; and dual purpose plus facial ezcema tolerance. A Coopworth Ram owned by Steve Wyn-Harris of Waipukerau won three of those spots (marked *), really making it the Super Sire.
For more information see www.beeflambnz.com.
What a very old menu tells us about the price of steak in the US
Aside
What’s in the price of steak?
An interesting blog post from NPR about the price of a fillet mignon in the US over the past 94 years. From the analysis of menus from New York City steakhouse Delmonico’s, it’s all to do with wage inflation and stagnation. Your views? Read more …
Business Growth Agenda a big stretch, says Barber
The Government’s Business Growth Agenda progress report on Building Export Markets specifies the target of increasing New Zealand’s exports from 30 percent today to 40 percent of GDP by 2025. It’s a big stretch, says meat industry commentator Allan Barber.
The progress report states that primary sector exports have outpaced the rest of the export sector, growing by half in real terms since 2000 at an average productivity growth rate of 2.1 percent per annum. To achieve the target of 40 percent of GDP, agriculture will have to maintain its growth rate for the next 13 years, while the rest of the economy must lift its game considerably. Manufacturing and services have been increasing by one percent a year and need to lift this to five percent over the coming decade, or alternatively agriculture will be required to expand further to bridge the gap.
This is an enormous challenge, equivalent to creating 250 more knowledge-intensive businesses creating $100 million from exports a year. The report cites Navman as an example of the type of business required. How many more like this can we think of? Not many, so it is highly improbable that these new businesses will emerge from areas totally unconnected with agriculture.
Primary sector exports will therefore have to increase by quite a bit more than the average of the past decade, if the target as a whole is to be reached.
Using a different report and set of figures the Riddet Institute in its recent Call to Arms report challenged the primary sector to treble its exports to $60 billion by 2025, equivalent to New Zealand’s total exports of goods and services today. However exports of $20 billion are only one third of the total. These figures emanate from the Government’s Economic Growth Agenda.
We can quibble with the different measurements and totals used to arrive at the conclusions (GDP, total exports, growth rates), but the fact remains, it’s one hell of a big stretch to see how to reach the target. The goal of the Boot Camp taking place at Stanford University this week is to see whether like-minded companies can develop the strategies required to bring agriculture up the value chain, enabling the sort of increase envisaged.
The question is whether the Government’s progress report on the activities of the Business Growth Agenda will contribute to the big goal and, if so, how significantly. It is a big ask, because it demands growth of between 5.5 percent and 7.5 percent, depending on the economic growth path, compared with Treasury’s forecast for the next three years of 1.8 percent.
The report says with a degree of understatement that “to achieve our target will require a concerted effort to develop more internationally competitive businesses in both the commodity and high-value technology-based sectors.” This may be official speak for ‘we know we haven’t got a hope, but we have to start somewhere.’
The key planks of the export growth development strategy are: Delivering a Compelling New Zealand Story; Improving Access to International Markets; Increasing Value from Tourism; Making it Easier to Trade from New Zealand; Growing International Education; Helping Businesses Internationalise; and Strengthening High-Value Manufacturing and Services Exports.
The progress report finishes with a summary of the strategies under each of these headings and Progress Indicators listing detailed actions underpinning the strategies. There is an enormous amount of work going on, notably in trade negotiations, removal of red tape for business, trade missions into key markets and tourism developments such as SmartGate at the airport.
But all work on developing a compelling New Zealand story is listed as a new project which indicates one of the major problems encountered in lifting our exports as a percentage of GDP. There is no agreed brand image under which all New Zealand’s exports and tourism experiences are promoted. The meat industry’s main brand has for a long time been New Zealand Lamb which has been very successful, but a major complaint has been the competition in export markets between exporters. Apart from North America, cooperation has been seriously lacking.
Part of the problem has been the complete lack of a generic New Zealand brand image. Development of this with a believable and compelling story to back it is an absolute priority, because brands take a long time or a lot of money to gain awareness, probably both.
This progress report is the first of six with the other five to come being Innovation, Skilled and Safe Workplaces, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Capital Markets. Obviously these other areas will play an important role in achieving the export goal.
The Government deserves credit for coming up with a coherent strategy, but it will have to generate a tremendous response from the private sector if the goal is to come close to being realised. Another challenge is the high proportion of SMEs in New Zealand which must be inspired to pursue the new business opportunities capable of converting them into large businesses with the requisite scale.
This article has also appeared at interest.co.nz.
Building Export Markets, government releases progress report
The Government has today unveiled its first Business Growth Agenda Progress report on actions to boost New Zealand exports. It is a timely appearance as the Primary Sector Boot Camp reaches its halfway point in the US.
Launched by Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce, the Building Export Markets report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) confirms the Government’s target to increase the contribution of exports to the economy from 30 percent to 40 percent of GDP by 2025.
English says this a challenging target and achieving it will require a concerted effort by New Zealand over many years. It will also require the continued development of new and expanding export markets.
“It is only through exporting that New Zealand, with a small domestic market, can deliver the growth and productivity required to enhance the wealth of our country and create more and higher paying jobs,” he says.
“Committing to this ambitious goal means the Government will stay focused on supporting firms to grow their exports.”
Steven Joyce says the report highlights the significant shift in economic power from the West to the East that is expected to happen over the next 20 years.
Building Export Markets is the first of six progress reports on the government’s Business Growth Agenda. Others will address innovation,skills, capital markets, infrastructure and resources. The reports lay out the work programme government agencies are implementing. Each has an informal portfolio group of ministers specifically grouped around the work streams, to drive the Business Growth Agenda forward and focus on what matters to business and companies.
Government intends to see three additional cross-cutting themes to be reflected across the Business Growth Agenda workstreams. These are: Maori Economic Development, Greening Growth; and Regulation. Better telling the ‘New Zealand Story’ is another Government priority and work is already underway with key stakeholders on “developing a compelling and consistent narrative about our country’s special qualities that work for a range of exporters and sectors,” according to the Ministers.
Actions contained in the Building Exports report include improving access to international markets, making it easier to trade from new Zealand, helping businesses internationalise, increasing value from tourism and high-tech manufacturing, growing international education and strengthening high-value manufacturing (including food and beverage manufacturing) and services exports.
“This first report is important, as it lays out the challenge for achieving growth – which is about being much more closely linked into the rest of the world and taking advantage of our opportunities,” says Joyce.
“While the world is going through tough times, the growth in Asian incomes will occur over the next 20 year. So there will be job growth, New Zealand’s challenge is to ensure it occurs in New Zealand, not in Australia, or somewhere else.”
The report shows that beef, lamb and wool accounted for 13 percent of New Zealand’s total $47.7 billion goods exports in 2011.
The Building Export Markets report is available here.
Carter in US for boot camp
Because of its size and importance, New Zealand’s primary sector, which currently accounts for 55 percent of exports is “critical” to achieving the government’s desired growth, the report says, so the outcome of this week’s Primary Sector Boot Camp at Stanford University will also be critical.
Minister of Primary Industries, David Carter, is part of the nine-strong Export Markets ministerial group, which also includes Prime Minister John Key, Steven Joyce, Murray McCully and Tim Groser. Carter is travelling in the United States this week to attend the Boot Camp and also to talk with US agriculture sector political leaders and officials.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the leaders of some of our most forward-thinking primary sector companies to collaborate on formulating a plan to leverage New Zealand’s competitive advantage globally,” Carter said before he left.
“It’s not often that we can get a powerful group like this representing over 80 percent of New Zealand primary sector exports around the table, and I am confident of a positive outcome.”
About 20 leaders from New Zealand’s dairy, meat, seafood, wine and horticulture industries are among those attending the week-long camp alongside top government representatives from MPI and NZ Trade and Enterprise. The group will be hearing from first class speakers to inspire and motivate their thinking. The event has been supported with a $100,000 grant from AGMARDT.
Among the range of agricultural organisations the Minister is meeting with separately to discuss common New Zealand–US primary industry interests are the Tri-Lamb Group and US Cattlemen’s Association.
“These meetings further strengthen the New Zealand-US bilateral relationship and give our two countries the opportunity to canvass a range of issues in the primary industries policy area. It is an opportunity to highlight the excellent collaborative work we already have with the US though the Global Research Alliance on agricultural greenhouse gases,” says the Minister.
“I particularly look forward to discussions on the mutual benefits that will be realised through the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement currently under negotiation.
“The TPP is important to New Zealand’s trade future and this visit will provide the opportunity to take political level readings on its progress.”
Knives are sharpened for tri-nations butchery competition
Nominations are open and soon a trial will take place for the 2013 Wedderburn Sharp Blacks. The trial will see the current team put through their paces against a team of challengers, all vying for one of the coveted five spots in the team.
For the past two years, the Wedderburn Sharp Blacks have taken on Australia in a test match, taking a side of beef and a lamb in a two-hour timeframe and turning it into a butchery display. In 2013, the test match will become a tri-nations, with Britain sending a team to compete.
Kim Doran from Retail Meat New Zealand, the competition organiser, says the contest is becoming a real highlight on the industry calendar.
“The rivalry developing in these test matches is intense. It’s all good-natured and there’s a great camaraderie developing between us and the Australians outside the match which can only be good for the industry.
“Adding the British team to the mix is an exciting prospect and is only going to add to the experience,” says Doran.
The 2013 Tri-Nations will take place on 9 March in Wanaka. Nominations for the 2013 Wedderburn Sharp Blacks close on 31 August.
