Ngāi Tahu Farming has brought in research organisations to validate the science and get research insights into its seven-year regenerative trial.
The Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizon) trial was launched by Ngāi Tahu Farming and Ngāi Tūāhuriri in August for all farmers.
AgResearch, DairyNZ, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, The Agribusiness Group and Soil Connection will carry out the research from $8 million funding by the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.
Ngāi Tahu Holdings chief executive Craig Ellison said the research was on a scale for alternative farming systems unseen in New Zealand.
“The pressures on Aotearoa New Zealand’s pastoral farmers are mounting and being part of the solution is the only way to progress into the future,” he said.
Ngāi Tahu Farming general manager Will Burrett said the proposed 2025 greenhouse gas emission charges, freshwater farm plans, community expectations and international consumer preferences were challenging conventional farming systems.
“Supporting farmers with quality insights of an alternative system and the impact it can have on total farm performance is vital to help define change, he said.
DairyNZ will monitor farm workers including for their worker wellbeing, sleep and fatigue rates, and productivity.
The dairy organisation will also monitor farm management and analyse pasture and animal productivity, and economic performance. Greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching at a farm scale will be estimated.
DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said this would give dairy farmers science-backed information to help them make the best decisions for their farming business and future.
Manaaki Whenua researchers will look at water-use efficiency, measure root zone nitrate leaching, changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks, and nitrous oxide and methane emissions.
This is expected to provide answers to regenerative farming’s ability to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, irrigation needs, nutrient losses and groundwater pollution.
“While there is a lot of interest now in regenerative farming practices, we still don’t have a lot of data in the New Zealand context,” AgResearch principal scientist Axel Heiser said.
The first trial measurements begin in July.
