NEW PEAS
TO PICK
The use of field peas for
producing a wide range of new
foods globally is increasing
rapidly and Plant Research -
together with its USA-based
breeding partner – has worked
for 10 years to develop the two
new varieties. Both companies
have linkages with major feed
ingredient companies who are
helping to understand key traits,
and managing director Adrian
Russell says new varieties are
needed to target specific endusers.
“These two yellow pea
varieties are the first step to
servicing these new markets.”
12 AUGUST 2018
New Zealand is well placed to
produce ingredients from grain
for emerging new food products,
he says. “Vegetable protein will
be increasingly used to produce
healthy and environmentallyfriendly
food products for a world
that is increasingly demanding
alternatives to the existing
paradigm for producing food.”
Both varieties are currently being
multiplied in the USA and New
Zealand, and are being tested
extensively with collaborators
to ensure that their agronomic
and functional traits are meeting
customer’s needs.
COME CLEAN,
SAYS NIAMH
Plant Research (NZ), a privately-owned plant
breeding and research company based in
Christchurch, has released two new field
pea varieties designed for the emerging pea
ingredients market.
Kiwi food manufacturers are being urged to
‘come clean’ about their product packaging by
a Gibbston film-maker. Niamh Peren, whose
family owns Two Sisters Vineyard, says it’s time
the Government introduced a new, simple and
compulsory labelling system on all food and
drink packaging…and she’s organised a petition
called Thumbs Up New Zealand to do just that.
“Sure, it might be embarrassing
for companies to come clean
about their packaging, but the
visual and upfront nature of these
labels should inspire them to
seek greener solutions." Peren
says. "As a small island nation,
surely we have the means to
create and share in a single green
waste strategy that looks after our
communities, our environment
and our wildlife.’’ The new
labelling system would see food
labelled on a scale, ranging from
‘Two Green Thumbs Up’ if the
packaging is 100% recyclable
in New Zealand and made from
100% recycled materials, to ‘Two
Red Thumbs Down’ if it is not
recycled in New Zealand.``We will
need our councils nationwide to
agree on a single standard of what
is recyclable.” Hundreds have
already signed the petition and
Peren is urging New Zealanders to
support her campaign.
However, that increase is
lower than high initial hopes
in a season marked by a very
early start to harvesting. New
Zealand Winegrowers chief
executive Philip Gregan says
many wineries had been
hoping for an even larger
vintage, given 2017’s small
harvest, but many have been
disappointed. “However, we
now expect export growth
in the year ahead will be
modest,” he says. “It will be
up to wineries to manage any
product shortages from the
vintage.” The warm summer
has produced fruit with
good ripeness levels, with
the increased production
of red wines a highlight.
“Production of both Pinot
Noir and Merlot has lifted
more than 20% on last year,
which will be welcomed by
wineries,” he says. “These
varieties were down sharply
in 2017, and it is very positive
to see a return to more
normal production levels
this year.” New Zealand
Winegrowers is confident
Vintage 2018 wines will add
to New Zealand’s reputation
as a premium producer of
cool climate wines. “Every
vintage is different and
ultimately the final test is the
quality delivered in the bottle
to consumers,” Gregan says.
New Zealand wine exports
are currently valued at $1.71
billion, up 3% in the past
year. Wine is New Zealand’s
fifth largest export.
RED WINE
BENEFIT
This year’s warm summer has
benefitted Kiwi winegrowing
regions, where 419,000
tonnes of grapes have been
harvested…up 6% on last
year’s figures.