FARM MOVES
‘DELIGHTFUL'
6 MARCH 2018
NEWS
SNIPS
Subway will
move away from
using whole
caged eggs in its
280 New Zealand
stores, and is the
latest in a series
of trending cagefree
commitments
across the
country
iMonitor and
the Restaurant
Association of
New Zealand
have announced
a new strategic
partnership giving
RA members
access to state
of the art online
food safety and
compliance tools
at exclusive
discounted rates
Northland
Regional Council
and NorthTec
culinary students
will treat visitors
at the upcoming
Northland Field
Days to wattle
seed-flavoured ice
cream, following
previous years’
offerings including
venison mini pies,
rabbit rissoles,
possum burgers,
rabbit sausages
and even wasp
larvae ice cream
Horticulture
New Zealand
president Julian
Raine says
the industry is
encouraged to
hear Biosecurity
Minister Damien
O’Connor
say he won’t
let the brown
marmorated stink
bug anywhere
near New Zealand.
Marlborough Sounds salmon
farmers are thrilled that the Government
is considering relocating
up to six salmon farms to deeper
locations with better water flow.
New Zealand King Salmon chief
executive Grant Rosewarne says a
newly-released report supports the
growing recognition that aquaculture
plays a key role in sustainably
feeding our planet. “Salmon is
rightly considered the most sustainable
of farmed animal proteins for
its minimal space utilisation, feed
efficiency, low carbon footprint, and
its ability to work harmoniously with
the natural nitrogen cycle,” he says.
“Add in the benefits of high yield,
an abundance of healthy Omega
3s, traceability and a great-tasting
product, and it’s easy to see that
this recognition is justified.” If all
nine hectares (about the size of
a land-based hobby farmlet) are
relocated, it is estimated that up
to 407 direct and indirect jobs will
be created for the company and regional
New Zealand once new sites
are fully commissioned, Rosewarne
says. “The fact that the panel has
recommended three of the six sites
under consideration be relocated
upholds the scientific rationale that
higher flow sites are most suitable,
and that our existing low-flow
salmon farms can and should be
relocated. We’re not standing still in
our innovative approaches. Highflow
farms are just the first step in
the vision to seek the best quality
growing environment.”
SUPPORT
FOR TONGA
POP A ROBOT
NEWS
Donations from New Zealand companies
are flowing into vanilla brand
Heilala Vanilla to assist with aid to ‘Eua
following the devastation of Cyclone
Gita in Tonga. The New Zealand-based
company, which has supplier links
with the 40 or so vanilla growers on
the island and has established the
Heilala Vanilla Foundation, has received
donations of goods and services from a
range of supporters, including long-life
milk from Lewis Road Creamery and
biscuits from Griffin’s Food Company.
Chief executive Jennifer Boggiss says
the island – home to 5000 people
and 800 households divided between
13 villages - has been badly hit, with
wide-spread devastation to crops and
buildings. Her father and company
co-founder John Ross is currently in
Tonga and has reported an immediate
need for non-perishable food as well
as machinery to help clear fallen trees
and debris. “We have been personally
touched by this disaster, as ‘Eua is
home to over 40 vanilla growers,” she
says. “These communities are already
vulnerable with limited resources to
overcome natural disasters. We remain
loyal to Tonga and will do whatever
is required to support our team and
community there.” Heilala has set
up a donation page on its website,
and every dollar will go directly to the
people of ‘Eua. The company will cover
all administrative and associated costs
required for the foundation, which is attempting
to secure chainsaws, building
materials, clothing, disposable nappies
and items for ‘Eua High School. “The
requirement for this relief is immediate
and there’s limited air freight to Tonga
available,” Boggiss says. “Heilala Vanilla
is seeking the support of Air New
Zealand and the New Zealand Government
to expedite the initial shipment."
Heilala was established in 2002 in
partnership with a local family in Vava’u
as an aid project following Cyclone
Waka. The category four Cyclone Gita,
which hit the island in mid-February,
has left complete villages flattened,
with limited access to food and water.
Vanilla plantations and partner growers
associated with Heilala are spread
across the island. People wishing to
support the Heilala Vanilla Foundation
in helping the victims of Cyclone Gita
can donate at https://goo.gl/9nt134 .
Imagine a world where you can eat a robot
that will heal you or provide essential
nutrients. It may sound like something
dreamt up in a science fiction novel
or Hollywood movie, but researchers
from Switzerland’s École Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne are closing in on
the creation of an ingestible robot that
can perform a variety of functions from
within the human body. A prototype of a
gelatin-based actuator has already been
presented to an international conference,
and the development team have already
warned that they will not be very tasty.
“Potential applications are disposable
robots for exploration, digestible robots
for medical purposes in humans and
animals, and food transportation where
the robot does not require additional
payload because the robot is the food,”
the Swiss scientists say. The actuators
will physically move around the body,
will work with digestion and metabolism,
and won’t be limited to just human use.
/9nt134
