Annual Report 2018
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G36 Annual Report 2018 Driving prosperity by transforming agriculture About us 02 AgResearch tohu 04 Chair and Chief Executive’s review 08 Celebrating our people 12 Our story 18 Our Science Plan 21 Our expertise 22 Our research 24 Our people 42 Internal research awards 46 Our highlights 48 Our international connections 50 Outreach 52 Collaboration with other Crown Research Institutes 54 Key performance indicators 58 Performance indicators 60 Financial performance indicators 64 Consolidated financial statements 65 Statement of accounting policies 69 Notes to financial statements 76 Auditor’s report 98 Statutory reporting 100 Corporate governance 104 Directory 106 About us Agriculture is one of New Zealand’s largest export income earners, and AgResearch plays a key role in delivering new knowledge and technologies to support the sector. Facilitating the smallest rural project to the Land use and management are studied in largest overseas research project, we produce relation to environmental impacts and climate science and technology projects for the benefit change. Improving dairy, beef, lamb and deer of the agricultural sector and New Zealand. production systems is addressed by innovative research on soil and water management, while We collaborate with research providers and reducing negative impacts on the quality of soil, end-users around the world, and together we water, atmosphere and ecosystems. develop biosecurity, land, soil and freshwater management systems, methods of climate Our biocontrol and biosecurity work is on the change adaption and mitigation, and sustainable management of pests and weeds agricultural by-products for the textile, food for the benefit of New Zealand’s pastoral sector and beverages sector. and associated environments. Our understanding of plant and endophyte Research includes the development of new technologies, such as metabolomics and biopesticides and technologies, and we play a epigenetics, leads the supply chain and role in making sure our national borders are supports the development of a new generation well protected. About us of livestock and plant-derived products. 02 03 About us AgResearch tohu AgResearch’s aspirations are highlighted through our corporate whakataukī, āta mātai, mātai whetū. This year we commissioned the creation of a visual depiction of this message, to enable us to speak to our purpose using other channels. Created by Ngāi Tahu designer Piri Cowie, clear areas) are often seen within rock this contemporary tohu is made up of two art drawings and may be read as the wairua components: Te Ao, an ink-painted circle (spirit) or mauri (energy) of a person. symbolic of Te Ao our Earth and speaking The placement of the figure within the of our interconnection with the environment; circle is important as the arms and legs are and He Tangata, a human figure inspired by extending out of the circle. This tohu speaks Ngāi Tahu whānui rock art. of reaching out, pushing boundaries and seeking new mātauranga – knowledge. This design is a reminder of looking to our past and learning from the work of our In this design the figure always sits on top ancestors as a way of moving forward into of the world with arms extending outwards. the future. Within the design Piri Cowie has The two tohu of Te Ao and He Tangata must AgResearch tohu AgResearch left some open spaces. These mā (white, never be separated. 04 Āta mātai, mātai whetū Being in pursuit of far horizons while firmly grounded tohu AgResearch 05 Our core tohu is supported by additional tohu designs that represent the diversity of AgResearch. Ngā Tāngata The tohu Ngā Tāngata acknowledges the many ancestors that have been here before us. We are part of the continuum of creativity, innovation and legacy of our ancestors. It is symbolic of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and wellbeing. These figures are inspired by our Ngāi Tahu whānui rock art. The colour palette offered here references the colours of the whenua (land) and people. Niho Taniwha This tohu is inspired by the tukutuku and taniko pattern Niho Taniwha, a pattern that represents mythology and is often used to symbolise a leader, strong orator or teacher. The design references the whenua (land) and many moutere (islands) within Aotearoa, and Te Waipounamu. AgResearch tohu AgResearch 06 Aramoana This tohu Aramoana speaks of ocean currents. It is an acknowledgement to the fearlessness and strategic planning of our Māori ancestors who voyaged across vast oceans. It is a tohu that speaks of journeying, bringing people together and seeking new horizons. The colour palette offered here references the colours of our oceans. Turuturu This tohu Turuturu is inspired by the tukutuku designs of Roimata Toroa and Turuturu – raindrops. This tohu is symbolic of the high importance and significance of water. AgResearch tohu AgResearch 07 Chair and Chief Executive’s review AgResearch continues to play a vital role in driving national and regional prosperity by transforming agriculture in New Zealand. Our scientists are leaders in innovative science, research and thought leadership across our work programmes of forage science, animal science, environmental and farming systems science, and food and bio-based products. Our role as the lead Crown Research Institute Change Committee as it grapples with the future (CRI) within the pastoral agriculture sector sees make-up of the Emissions Trading Scheme and us working closely with our sector partners to how agriculture fits into that picture. deliver innovation into their operations and with government officials across a range of AgResearch had another year of significant interconnected activities that link to core science advancements guided by our new policy initiatives. Science Plan (see page 21), our Science Advisory Panel and increasingly underpinned by our In the latter category are the Ministry of national and international collaborations. Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) review of national farm systems We developed our new Science Plan in and environment investment, the Biological consultation with our stakeholders to ensure Emissions Reference Group, the Prime our research is focused on delivering the Minister’s Chief Science Advisor’s report on thought-leadership and innovation to drive Overseer and Greenhouse Gas accounting, prosperity by transforming agriculture. It reflects and the Productivity Commission. Also, the a whole-of-value-chain, customer-centred work we do in the area of climate change approach that acknowledges the challenges and mitigation and adaptation fed into the opportunities across global, national, regional Chair and Chief Executive’s review Chair and Chief Executive’s discussions held by the Interim Climate and local scales. 08 A highlight of our work this year was the improve farmer decisions around farm nutrient success of the AgResearch-led global scientific use and exploring how digital technologies can project on rumen microbiomes which resulted deliver targeted advice to end-users (see page 37). in the generation of a reference catalogue of over 500 rumen microbial genomes. Prior to To further improve the flow of science (ours this, just 15 rumen microbial genomes were and other’s) into useful tools, this year we available to the scientific community. The project acquired full ownership in Farmax, whose represents a major scientific advancement software is used by farmers and their advisors and means that the data can be translated into to analyse, monitor and review farm operations useful interventions, including identifying targets to determine the production and economic for vaccines and inhibitors to reduce livestock outcomes of various managerial options. methane emissions and improve productivity. The data has been made publicly available and Our commitment to being customer centric will be a globally significant resource. saw us contribute to the launch of Ballance’s Mitigator, a support tool underpinned by our At the other end of our research breadth, science to aid landowners in their operational we published preliminary findings of a milk planning in order to farm more sustainably composition study that identifies potential without losing focus on productivity and benefits for young women with lactose profits. Similarly, our relationship and mahi intolerance. The study was the first in the with Te Tumu Paeroa continues to develop world to compare people’s immediate digestive around an integrated kaupapa for Te Tumu response to conventional and A2 protein milks. Paeroa’s Poutama Framework and AgResearch’s We have also progressed our investment toward AgInform technology. This collaborative model creating new platforms to leverage ‘Digital will help decision-makers of Māori free-hold Agriculture’ for the betterment of farming land to identify pathways for taking back direct systems and surrounding environments. and active management of their whenua within These include real-time animal tracking to ecological boundaries and cultural values. Jeff Grant — Chair, AgResearch Chair and Chief Executive’s review Chair and Chief Executive’s 09 Tom Richardson — Chief Executive, AgResearch This year has also seen significant advancements campus redevelopment programme and other in our major construction programmes. investment plans. Our equity position at year- Construction on our Food Science Facility with end is $249m. Massey University, is well advanced at Food HQ and will be completed in late 2019, and we have Chairman Jeff Grant departed our board as completed the early enabling works for