A project to restore sheep as a mainstay of our economy is one of three proposals to receive a total of $20 million in Government funding from its new Primary Growth Partnership.
The New Zealand Merino Company will receive $15 million from the Government towards a total $36 million it intends investing over the next five years in what it calls "the great New Zealand sheep revolution" and use science, technology and marketing to increase the value of all sheep products, not just fine wool.
The other two successful bids for funding were investigations into new tree-harvesting methods on steep hill country and natural deterrents in grass to keep birds away.
New Zealand Merino chief executive John Brakenridge said the sheep revolution plan was driven partly by unsatisfied demand for merino wool, but also by the desire to create the ultimate multipurpose sheep from economically and environmentally sustainable farms.
Mr Brakenridge said New Zealand sheep farmers produced excellent products, but were disadvantaged by being commodity sellers.
New Zealand Merino proposed working with scientists to increase the volume of merino wool and employing the company's marketing skills to sell sheep leather, meat and lanolin.
"The New Zealand primary industry has huge untapped potential.
We have world-class production-science agencies such as AgResearch; we have highly professional farming producers; but the missing link for the broader New Zealand primary sector has been a sophisticated market interface."
Mr Brakenridge said.
