Since 1973, Massey has had a site at the iconic agricultural event. It began with Professor Emeritus Ralph Sims loading up a Bedford truck with the idea of promoting Massey’s Bachelors and Diplomas in agricultural science and horticultural science.
Nearly 50 years on, the university’s presence at Fieldays may look different, but our purpose remains the same: to demonstrate how the developments, research, and expertise of Massey staff, students, and alumni in agrifood contribute to the advancement of Aotearoa New Zealand.
An interactive timeline of Massey’s significant developments across all areas of study will be on display at the Massey stand in the main pavilion. Academic and Future Students Advisors will also be on hand to answer course-related queries.
Protecting water with managed farm landscapes
Last year, Massey’s School of Agriculture and Environment presented a working farm model to describe scientific solutions to aid farmers in their bid to reduce the demand on water sources while improving water quality.
Professor Chris Anderson, Associate Professor Ranvir Singh, Associate Professor David Horne and their research team will be on site showcasing research focused on the measurement and minimisation of surface water runoff on farms and other managed environments, including containment of the water. Come and see our working farm model, see a demonstration of detainment bunds and understand the process through our digital explainer.
Farmers, iwi, local councils and scientists are concerned about the loss of phosphorus and sediment from land into freshwater systems. They are both included in the incoming Te Mana o Te Wai National Policy. After heavy rain events, these pollutants are transferred into freshwater environments by excess surface runoff. This can lead to increased plant and algal growth that becomes a danger to aquatic life and creates imbalance in freshwater ecosystems.
One of the strategies to tackle this issue is detainment bunds. These are low, earthen structures that can provide a nutrient minimisation strategy for pastoral agricultural runoff, essentially preventing the phosphorus and sediment reaching rivers or streams.
Food tech master’s student turned vegan ice cream brand co-founder
Current Food Technology master’s student Mrinali Kumar is changing the game on food waste by developing a vegan ice cream made with cosmetically imperfect cauliflower. Milli and co-founder Jenni Matheson created Eat Kinda with a mission to make vegan foods taste better using science, technology and kiwi ingenuity.
Milli will be attending Fieldays to demonstrate how studying food technology can lead to creating your own business and developing innovative products that can change the food industry.
Through her time with Massey’s School of Food and Advanced Technology, Milli was able to develop her product using research and technical skills learnt during her degree and by using the facilities available at Massey, including the Food Pilot. Learning these technical skills was pivotal for the creation of the innovative formulation that makes Eat Kinda ice cream stand out from other plant-based competitor products, with a creamy, dairy-like texture and a higher melting stability.
Strawberry ripple, chocolate ripple and mint chocolate biscuit are the first three flavours in the range and will be available to sample at the Massey stand during the event.
The Eat Kinda brand has already received recognition for its outstanding innovative development and potential for global success. Milli was the winner of the Momentum Student Entrepreneur category at the 2022 KiwiNet Awards, following on from her win at the Massey Enterprise competition and the Startup Weekend in Taranaki.
In conversation about improving environmental farming outcomes
An ‘in conversation’ luncheon event for Massey alumni, students and whānau will be held on Friday 2 December at 12:30pm to discuss improving environmental outcomes for farming Aotearoa New Zealand.
The discussion will be moderated by Head of the School of Agriculture and Environment, Professor Paul Kenyon, with guest speakers Associate Professor David Horne and Associate Professor Ranvir Singh.
Visit Massey at Fieldays
Massey’s stand will be in the Mystery Creek Pavilion (site PB44).
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Massey staff were involved in the National Fieldays from its early days, but did not have a site at the iconic event until 1973, four years after it started, when a young Ralph Sims loaded up a Bedford truck and hit the road.
