Latest news with #FoundationforArableResearch
Scoop
6 days ago
- Science
- Scoop
Congratulations…Dame Alison Stewart
Press Release – Foundation for Arable Research – FAR This Honour, which recognises her pre-eminent contribution to plant science and the arable sector, is well deserved and recognises years of commitment. It seems fitting that it is announced just a few weeks before she steps down from her role with FAR. The Board and staff of the Foundation for Arable Research are delighted to congratulate FAR CEO, Alison Stewart, on her appointment as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This Honour, which recognises her pre-eminent contribution to plant science and the arable sector, is well deserved and recognises years of commitment. It seems fitting that it is announced just a few weeks before she steps down from her role with FAR. In response to the appointment, Professor Stewart, whose full title is Emeritus Distinguished Professor, says she is absolutely thrilled. 'It seems redundant to say it, but it really is a great honour. And it's an honour I'm pleased to share with the plant science community and the arable sector, both huge, but often unrecognised contributors to New Zealand's agriculture and horticulture industries. 'I've been involved with plant science and plant pathology for my whole working career, with the shift to arable coming about when I joined FAR in 2018. Working in the arable industry has been an absolute pleasure and privilege. The sector is an exemplar of a sustainable and resilient farming system, and we should be really proud of it.' Dame Alison was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of services to biology in 2009. Other career honours and achievements include: PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Stirling (1984) First female Professor at Lincoln University (1998) Bayer – NZ Innovators Award (2012) Founding Director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University (2003-2011) AgResearch Technology Transfer Award (2002) Agricom Significant Achievement Award for Research Excellence (2001) MAFBNZ Biosecurity Award for Excellence (2008) Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology, Lincoln University (2011) Fellow of the NZ Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Science (2006) Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society (2011)
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Arable farm boasts 14 income streams
An English farmer is proving there's more than one way to squeeze every cent out of an arable operation. Lancashire's Olly Harrison has become a successful farmer and entrepreneur as well as being a popular YouTuber since leaving school at 16 after struggling with dyslexia. He's grown his farm from 70 hectares to 600ha and used earnings from his YouTube channel — OllyBlogsAgricontractfarmer — which has nearly 150,000 subscribers, to build up his machinery fleet. Over the past month, he's put out posts about "flailing off" a roadside verge, inspecting emerging millet and canary grass crops in a drought year, oil leaks in a tractor and the minutiae of farming life. His farming business has 14 different income streams including cropping, dog walking fields, chipping tree waste for biomass, sunflower mazes and office and holiday rentals. The farmer always seeking new ways to commercially get the most out of his land and assets will be one of the main speakers at Foundation for Arable Research's (FAR) two-day two-yearly conference at Lincoln University from June 30. Mr Harrison will be outlining his farming journey via video link. The conference theme of Show Me the Money,will tackle the ongoing concern of profitability as farmers balance greater costs with trying to bring in more income. A range of international and local speakers will combine with FAR staff to outline ways farmers can reduce costs, improve productivity, diversify into additional income streams and adopt new tools and technologies. FAR spokeswoman Anna Heslop said growers provided regular feedback on the financial challenges of increasing input costs, flat crop contract prices, increased regulatory compliance and extreme weather events. Keynote speaker will be New Zealand's special agricultural trade envoy and Methven arable farmer Hamish Marr. He will be accompanied in the lineup by South Australian grain grower James Venning talking about how to make technology pay. Over varying soil types, he uses a wide range of technologies to help his decision-making and to micro-manage areas in his cropping programme focusing on productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness. The chairman of his local grower group Northern Sustainable Soils, is a board member of the Hart Field Site Group and a grower director of Grain Producers South Australia. Also appearing via video link will be the founding director of the Centre for Evidence Based Agriculture at Harper Adams University in England, Prof Nicola Randall, to discuss whether regenerative agricultural systems add value. Farmer discussion panels will provide examples of different approaches and technologies growers are adopting to improve their farm business performance. A conference dinner will double as a farewell to FAR chief executive Dr Alison Stewart, who steps down at the end of June. Who is Olly Harrison? United Kingdom farmer and entrepreneur Olly Harrison is the face behind popular YouTube channel OllyBlogsAgricontractfarmer. Daily videos starting in the Covid-19 lockdown provide an insight into the challenges and triumphs of farming, marked by humour and diversification stories to fund his "tractor addiction". His online presence reaches an audience of more than 350,000 followers across his social channels, with 110,000 of them on YouTube. The farmer's 1500-plus videos have been watched more than 77 million times with his content resonating with farming enthusiasts and urban people curious about rural life. Mr Harrison was named the International Agricultural Influencer for YouTube by the German Agricultural Society and recognised by the National Farmers' Union as a Community Farming Hero. His ability to explain the complexities of farming in straightforward language has made him a regular contributor on BBC News and BBC Radio 4. By last year his farming business had 14 different income streams, including a merchandise operation grossing more than £100,000 in 2023. After vowing he would own a brand new combine harvester by the age of 40, and achieving the goal, he decided to drive his Claas Lexion combine from John O'Groats to Land's End for charity. His charitable contributions so far total more than $1 million from events ranging from tractor runs through Liverpool to YouTube fundraisers. He has promised to leave a farm to each of his three children as he continues to build his farming business.
Otago Daily Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Former B+L boss on the move to arable sector
Dr Scott Champion is replacing Dr Alison Stewart as chief executive of the industry body Foundation for Arable Research. Photo: FAR Former Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Dr Scott Champion will take over the leadership of the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR). Dr Champion takes on the role on July 1, replacing Dr Alison Stewart who will pursue semi-retirement after seven years at the helm. Chairman Steven Bierema said Dr Champion's skills were well matched for the developing needs of the arable industry and its growers. "Scott has been involved with the New Zealand and Australian food and fibre industries for 25 years, holding leadership and governance roles in research, tertiary education, marketing and industry good and has strong networks across agribusiness, government and other sectors. Dr Champion is a founding partner of consulting company Primary Purpose, the programme director of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme. The former B+LNZ chief executive also led the New Zealand Meat Board. Mr Bierema said this experience would be invaluable to FAR and its growing levy payers. Dr Champion said he was looking forward to supporting arable farmers as they worked through many challenges and opportunities facing the industry. "Growers are dealing with a lot; understanding everything from how to reduce environmental impacts to meeting customer and consumer needs, and of course, remaining profitable. I've been involved in developing strategies and programmes to address some of these issues in both arable and other food and fibre industries, and look forward to working with and supporting growers and the broader arable industry." Dr Stewart plans to plans to fill semi-retirement with science advisory and agricultural consultancy work and will continue to represent agency boards as a director, as well as building a new home at Governor's Bay. Among many small wins, she counts establishing the investment fund Cultivate Ventures the most satisfying as few thought it would get off the ground. In the initial fundraiser FAR fronted $3 million as the cornerstone investor with a total of about $9 million raised. A second capital raise is going out to larger agricultural agencies with the goal of raising $20m. FAR is the research organisation for arable growers, funded by grower money in three levies.
Otago Daily Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
New CEO to champion FAR
Scott Champion Former Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Dr Scott Champion will take over the leadership of the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR). Dr Champion starts work on July 1, replacing Dr Alison Stewart, who will semi-retire after seven years at the helm. Chairman Steven Bierema said Dr Champion's skills were well matched with the developing needs of the arable industry and its growers. "Scott has been involved with the New Zealand and Australian food and fibre industries for 25 years, holding leadership and governance roles in research, tertiary education, marketing and industry and has strong networks across agribusiness, government and other sectors." Dr Champion is a founding partner of consulting company Primary Purpose and the programme director of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme. The former B+LNZ chief executive also led the New Zealand Meat Board. Mr Bierema said this experience would be invaluable to FAR and its growing levy payers. Dr Champion said he was looking forward to supporting arable farmers as they worked through many challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Dr Stewart plans to fill semi-retirement with science advisory and agricultural consultancy work and continue to represent agency boards as a director, as well as building a new home at Governor's Bay. FAR is the research organisation for arable growers, funded by grower money in three levies. — APL
