10 May 2002 Agriculture Minister impressed with practical focus of Lincoln University research

Lincoln University's focus on commercially useful end-product scientific research and on the provision of the science to underpin important regional and national economic activities has impressed Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton.

Lincoln's Vice-Chancellor, Dr Frank Wood, said he was delighted that the Minister had so clearly seen the focus and direction of the University.

"These days we use the word 'contextualisation' in describing our approach to teaching and research at Lincoln. We place emphasis on understanding the value of knowledge and how to apply it not just in a domestic context but in an international context.

"That is the basis on which our overall contextual approach to learning has evolved and the basis on which the integrated nature of our programmes has developed," he said.

A number of senior staff presented overviews of divisional research to the Minister.

Molecular biologist Dr Jonathan Hickford of the Animal and Food Sciences Division told Mr Sutton about the sheep foot rot gene tolerance typing test developed for farmers at Lincoln University.

"We showed how we have travelled the whole path from research to commercial product.

"With MAF money the test is now available for sheep breeders.

"It is a good example of the 'real world' application of science research which characterises Lincoln University's approach to research.

"Using the same model of doing scientific research to get a useful end product and commercialising it, we are now moving on to the investigation of gene marker testing for cold tolerance in lambs, mastitis in dairy cattle and foot rot in goats.

"There is clear economic benefit to farmers and thereby the economy of the country as a whole in all of this work."

"The foot rot work was carried out with funding support from Meat New Zealand, WoolPro and Merino New Zealand."

Dr Hickford said that the overarching emphasis in this sort of work was improving animal health and welfare.

Professor of Plant Biotechnology Brian Jordan told the Minister about the work of Lincoln University's Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division.

The division is made up of three major interactive groups – soil and physical sciences; plant sciences; ecology and entomology – all of which have strong links to primary industries, CRI' s and overseas research and teaching institutions. The ecology group is the largest in Australasia.

Among research areas the division's scientists are working in are the biological control of soil-borne plant diseases; the technology of using naturally occurring bacteria-destroying agents for the control of bacterial plant diseases; molecular diagnostics for New Zealand biosecurity; and the genetic engineering of crop plants for disease resistance.

The division is also carrying out internationally recognised scientific research on global climate change through its work on nitrous oxide emissions from soil. Work on the impact of solar UV-B on crops is another important field.

Providing the science to support the practice of sustainable agriculture is a major aim of the division. It is also providing the science to underpin the organic industry. The division takes a range of approaches to sustainable production – conventional, organic, and biotechnological.

Among facilities are a Tree-Ring Laboratory (tree-rings can provide valuable data on climate patterns and climate change); and a lysimeter laboratory (an underground laboratory, under the soil surface where nutrient leaching and other soil transport processes can be studied).

The division has a number of centres within its province – Centre for Advanced Bioprotection; Centre for Soil and Environmental Quality; Centre for Environmental Toxicology (in collaboration with Landcare); the Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation; and the NZ Seed Technology Institute.

Professor of Trade and Environmental Economics, Caroline Saunders, of the Commerce Division, told the Minister about Lincoln University's work assessing the economic, social, and cultural implications of regional development and, globally, determining the impact on New Zealand of changes in international trading conditions and policy including environmental issues.

Projects her "international trade research group" are and have been involved with include –

• Estimating the impact of changes in EU environmental policy on New Zealand.
• Identifying and evaluating the trade risks and benefits of GM food.
• Identifying and evaluating the potential benefits and costs of organic production.
• Identifying the value to New Zealand of preferential access to markets.

"Through the development of models we can help answer questions such as the impact on New Zealand prices, production and trade of the foot and mouth crisis in the UK; the impact of increasing preference for NZ meat in the EU; the risk to New Zealand of the US banning imports of meat; and the effect on New Zealand of different production costs and preferences for organic meat," she says.

"Through work such as this Lincoln University sees itself as linking physical science and social science research for the benefit of New Zealand and its people.

"There is a growing threat to New Zealand's trade and the country's environment through increased restrictions on trade for environmental reasons; environmental policies being introduced without consideration to their impact on trade; and trade policies being pursued which impact on the environment. We are concerned with all these areas."

She told the Minister too about the new Economic Development Centre at Lincoln University and its aims to –

• Evaluate regional development issues.
• Assess the economic, social and environmental implications of projects and policies, including innovation.
• Use modelling capabilities to assess the impacts of changes through the environment to production and then international trade.
• Assess the impact of changing trading and environmental policy on New Zealand.
• Assess the impact of innovation on international trade and New Zealand's producer returns.

"By developing the capability to evaluate economic development in regions, we will be able to help areas grow," she said.

"It is anticipated that the Lincoln University centre will work in partnership with small groups of local people to provide financial, economic, social and environmental assistance that will ensure communities achieve the goals they set for themselves."

Professor Saunders is the first woman professor in the Commerce Division at Lincoln University, where she is also Director of the campus-based Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit. She spent 20 years as an academic in the United Kingdom where her work in regional economic development focused on agriculture and the environment.