Latest news with #NewZealandAgriculturalGreenhouseGasResearchCentre
Scoop
5 hours ago
- Science
- Scoop
NZAGRC Changes Name To Ag Emissions Centre
Press Release – Ag Emissions Centre The new name is about being more visible, better connected, and more easily identified by the farmers, Mori agribusinesses, researchers, and industry partners we support. It reflects the Centres role as specialists in agricultural emissions, and the … The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) has a new name. It will now be known as the Ag Emissions Centre. Since 2009, the Ag Emissions Centre has led research to help farmers meet the growing challenge of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The new name will make it easier for farmers and industry to find and engage with the science, tools, and support that will help them reduce emissions. 'As international expectations around emissions have grown, so too has the pressure on farmers to respond, and our work has evolved alongside them,' says Dr Naomi Parker, Executive Director of the Ag Emissions Centre. 'The new name is about being more visible, better connected, and more easily identified by the farmers, Māori agribusinesses, researchers, and industry partners we support. It reflects the Centre's role as specialists in agricultural emissions, and the urgency of the challenge we're helping tackle.' While the name has changed, the Ag Emissions Centre's core mission remains the same: shaping and funding research that can help farmers, government, and industry meet global demands for low-emissions farming. Its research portfolio includes a methane vaccine and inhibitors, nitrous oxide inhibitors, low-methane livestock genetics, and farm systems research. Reducing agricultural emissions remains one of the most pressing issues facing New Zealand's primary sector. Agriculture makes up over 50% of the country's total emissions, and the pressure to demonstrate measurable reductions from global markets, customers, and trading partners is growing. 'Farmers are already feeling the effects of climate change and shifting market expectations,' says Dr Parker. 'Our role is to help discover and develop the tools and knowledge New Zealand farmers need to stay competitive, protect their markets, and keep farming sustainably into the future.' The Ag Emissions Centre will continue to operate as an independent unit within AgResearch, which will transition on 1 July 2025 to the new Bioeconomy Science Institute under the Government's wider science system reform. Existing contracts and relationships with research partners remain unchanged. Stakeholders will begin seeing the new name and branding, including new email addresses and website at from 1 July 2025.
Scoop
8 hours ago
- Science
- Scoop
NZAGRC Changes Name To Ag Emissions Centre
The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) has a new name. It will now be known as the Ag Emissions Centre. Since 2009, the Ag Emissions Centre has led research to help farmers meet the growing challenge of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The new name will make it easier for farmers and industry to find and engage with the science, tools, and support that will help them reduce emissions. 'As international expectations around emissions have grown, so too has the pressure on farmers to respond, and our work has evolved alongside them,' says Dr Naomi Parker, Executive Director of the Ag Emissions Centre. 'The new name is about being more visible, better connected, and more easily identified by the farmers, Māori agribusinesses, researchers, and industry partners we support. It reflects the Centre's role as specialists in agricultural emissions, and the urgency of the challenge we're helping tackle.' While the name has changed, the Ag Emissions Centre's core mission remains the same: shaping and funding research that can help farmers, government, and industry meet global demands for low-emissions farming. Its research portfolio includes a methane vaccine and inhibitors, nitrous oxide inhibitors, low-methane livestock genetics, and farm systems research. Reducing agricultural emissions remains one of the most pressing issues facing New Zealand's primary sector. Agriculture makes up over 50% of the country's total emissions, and the pressure to demonstrate measurable reductions from global markets, customers, and trading partners is growing. 'Farmers are already feeling the effects of climate change and shifting market expectations,' says Dr Parker. 'Our role is to help discover and develop the tools and knowledge New Zealand farmers need to stay competitive, protect their markets, and keep farming sustainably into the future.' The Ag Emissions Centre will continue to operate as an independent unit within AgResearch, which will transition on 1 July 2025 to the new Bioeconomy Science Institute under the Government's wider science system reform. Existing contracts and relationships with research partners remain unchanged. Stakeholders will begin seeing the new name and branding, including new email addresses and website at from 1 July 2025.
National Business Review
2 days ago
- Business
- National Business Review
Lucidome Bio appoints board chair
Lucidome Bio has appointed agricultural technology commercialisation expert Bridgit Hawkins as chairperson, strengthening its governance bench as the company advances its breakthrough methane-reducing vaccine towards global commercial development. The company was established by AgriZeroNZ, with the support of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium and the New Zealand Government and consolidates New Zealand's intellectual property, scientific talent and funding into a single high-growth venture. Lucidome Bio chief executive David Aitken said: 'We've built strong … foundations and are now focused on making technology breakthroughs, progressing regulatory pathways, and strengthening our commercial roadmap into the future. Bridgit has navigated this transition many times and understands how to balance bold thinking with tight execution. She is set to play a critical role in helping us move with clarity and intent.' Hawkins brings deep experience in leading technology-driven companies from early concept phase through to scale and exit. As former founder and CEO of Regen Ltd, she is currently chief sustainability officer at farm management solution company CropX. Hawkins' work has spanned startup governance, capital raising, intellectual property strategy, commercial partnerships, and measuring climate tech impact for global clients. With a master's degree in agricultural science, she has also completed executive training at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and founded Fields of Change, an initiative focused on industry-wide solutions to systemic agricultural challenges. 'Early-stage governance is very different to conventional business-as-usual. You're dealing with high potential, limited resources, and a very fast-moving market. The skill is knowing where to focus – what truly matters – and how to use the resources you have to maximise their effect,' Hawkins explained. Hawkins said what drew her to Lucidome Bio was a rare combination of breakthrough science, a purpose-led team, and a shared sense of urgency. 'The impact potential is enormous, the science is sound, and the belief is real. Now we need to show the world we can execute.' The appointment comes as Lucidome Bio gains growing international recognition, following its selection as a 2025 global finalist at the Animal Health, Nutrition and Technology Innovation Showcase in Boston where the company's methane vaccine was recognised for its potential to transform livestock methane reduction at scale. The technology targets methanogenic archaea – the microbes in a ruminant's gut responsible for methane production – by priming the animal's immune system to generate antibodies that reduce methanogen growth through a cost-effective vaccine. The result is a practical, science-backed solution that supports emission reductions without compromising animal health or productivity. 'In many parts of the world, feed additives or high-cost delivery systems simply aren't viable. A vaccine levels the playing field – it's scalable, cost-effective, and equitable and I look forward to ensuring Lucidome Bio gains traction both locally and on the global innovation stage,' concluded Hawkins. This is supplied content and not commissioned or paid for by NBR.
Scoop
14-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
NZ's Methane Reducing Vaccine Selected As Global Finalist For Innovation Showcase In Boston, USA
New Zealand agricultural biotech company Lucidome Bio has been selected as one of just fourteen global finalists to pitch at the Animal Health, Nutrition and Technology Innovation USA event this week in Boston - a significant opportunity to showcase its world-first methane-reducing vaccine on the international stage. The Innovation Showcase is a premier global platform for breakthrough companies in animal health and agtech to present game-changing innovations to a live audience of industry leaders, investors and collaborators with attendees voting for the most promising 2025 ventures. Lucidome Bio's pioneering solution has been hailed as a potential 'holy grail' for climate action in agriculture - a low-cost, high-impact tool that could dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. 'As a nation globally renowned for agricultural excellence and innovation, it's fitting that New Zealand is stepping onto the world stage with a breakthrough that could help reshape the future of farming. Lucidome Bio's selection as a global finalist is more than a recognition of scientific achievement; it's a signal that New Zealand is leading the charge in practical climate solutions for agriculture. Lucidome Bio is proud to represent the strength of Kiwi science, the power of partnership, and the potential of a vaccine that could transform farming systems around the globe,' said David Aitken, Chief Executive Officer of Lucidome Bio. How it works: microbiome meets methane Lucidome Bio's vaccine aims to trigger an animal's immune system to produce antibodies in saliva that suppress the activity of methane-producing microbes (methanogens) in the rumen. These microbes are responsible for the majority of methane emitted through livestock burps which is a significant contributor to climate change. From research to reality: bringing the vaccine to farmers Lucidome Bio was established by AgriZeroNZ, with the support of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre and the New Zealand government, to accelerate the commercialisation of this breakthrough - consolidating New Zealand's intellectual property, scientific talent and funding into a single high-growth venture. The company continues to work closely with AgResearch, with leading scientists seconded into the business and providing access to research facilities. The Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium remains a shareholder, alongside AgriZeroNZ. 'A vaccine that reduces methane would be transformative for farmers worldwide. What we're developing has the potential to fundamentally shift how livestock emissions are managed - offering farmers a practical, cost-effective tool that doesn't compromise productivity. It's a solution that works with nature, not against it. Being recognised on the global stage affirms not just the calibre of New Zealand science but the urgency and relevance of what we're building. It isn't innovation for innovation's sake - it's a critical lever for climate action in agriculture and we're proud to be leading from the front,' concludes Lucidome Bio's Chairman Bridgit Hawkins. Other finalists in the 'Production animal health showcase' category include Barnwell Bio, Flox, Fluxergy, Tribe Biotech and Verility.
NZ Herald
02-05-2025
- Science
- NZ Herald
Animal methane emissions: GM ryegrass trial shows promise
When expressed as grams of methane per kilogram of dry matter intake (DMI), the reduction was 7%. Dry matter is the weight of the ryegrass after all moisture has been removed. There was a trend for feed intake to be reduced on the HME treatment, which is in line with previous research, where AgResearch scientists supplemented lipids to sheep grazing ryegrass. In this previous work, the lowered intake did not result in a reduction in animal performance. This raises the possibility that an unrestricted diet of HME ryegrass may have a greater reduction in methane emissions due to a reduction in methane per unit of intake and reduced intake. This would need to be experimentally tested. The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, Grasslands Innovation Ltd, and AgriZeroNZ supported the recent feeding trial. The HME ryegrass, developed by AgResearch scientists with the support of Grasslanz Technology, PGG Wrightson Seeds and DairyNZ, is achieved by adding two modified plant genes to increase the lipid content in the leaf. In the feeding trial, the sheep were fed ryegrass with almost double the lipid content compared to the unmodified ryegrass silage (4.4% vs. 2.3%, respectively). In addition to a reduction in methane, the higher level of lipid in HME ryegrass is also expected to increase the nutritional value, which has the potential to boost farm productivity. Also, in 2023, the research team published research showing that HME ryegrass can reduce nitrous oxide emissions – another potent greenhouse gas. The HME ryegrass has been developed and grown in labs and glasshouses in New Zealand, in line with the country's regulations. When grown in paddocks, it will have the distinct advantage of being available to livestock to routinely graze, instead of being fed as a supplement. The programme is currently seeking investment to fund the next stage of the work toward commercial handover to its seed company partners. Depending on funding arrangements, further research and trials of the HME ryegrass may happen in New Zealand or Australia.
