29 Jan 2013

Ministry, meat industry commit to funding research

2:55 pm on 29 January 2013

The red meat industry has scored another success in attracting government funding for another large-scale research programme.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has committed more than $30 million from the Primary Growth Partnership Fund to cover half the cost of a seven-year Collaboration for Sustainable Growth project.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand chair Mike Petersen said it will complement other PGP-funded meat industry research programmes.

It will help farmers to improve their performance by adopting the practices of the country's top farmers.

Mr Petersen said the organisation has industry commitments to fund their part of the programme, and is now looking for a farmer contribution.

It will ask farmers' support to use up to $10 million of New Zealand Meat Board reserves and some Beef and Lamb New Zealand reserve funds.