New technologies for efficient farming
Waikato University researchers are teaming up with farmers to find more productive and environmentally friendly farming methods.
University of Waikato researchers are keeping with the theme of Fieldays this year by working to help farmers increase their productivity and reduce their environmental impact.
Researchers are targeting farmers to look at more efficient means of farming through the use of new technologies.
Waikato University Professor of Agribusiness, Jacqueline Rowarth, who spoke at the Food and the Environment seminar at day one of Fieldays, discussed the impact population growth, climate change and increasing regulation may have on the future of New Zealand’s food exports.
“In the past few decades the world’s population has drastically increased, but not the amount of land used for farming and producing food.
“It’s farmers and technology that are making the difference. New Zealand is surrounded by other countries who all want our food, and we have the potential to help produce it for them,” Rowarth said.
Rowarth believes the questions for New Zealand are: “How can we produce more food? Do we have more land we can put into agriculture? Or do we improve the productivity of our existing farmland?”
New Zealand currently feeds about 20 million people around the world and has the potential to feed more.
Visitors to the seminars will have the opportunity to hear talks on foreign land ownership, food prices, and super farms.
The university is in its sixth year as a Fieldays strategic partner, and Professor Rowarth is playing a key role in delivering the Fieldays Seminar Series located in the Mystery Creek Pavilion.
