Current Research

Market Access Solutionz to provide on-going monitoring of biosecurity performance at the border.  Co-funded by VR&I and SGRR.

Three-year project to identify and manage biosecurity risks that could be a threat to the vegetable sector. The project comprises two aspects (1) monitoring new and emerging pests and diseases, (2) monitoring pests that are arriving and intercepted at the border and engaging with MPI to manage import pathways.

AgFirst led project to better understand horticultural management practices and their downstream effects on the quality of water coming out of tile drain systems. 3yr SFFF project beginning Dec 2020.

This project looks at current practices, measurement tools and models, and builds a platform to enable growers to make sustainable decisions economically and environmentally. Industry appetite, regulatory push, and knowledge extension and transfer will ensure sustainable practices are adopted and Government targets are met. Duration: 1 July 2020 – 30^th June 2024 Co-funding by MPI, PNZ, HortNZ, VR&I Board, Vegetables NZ Inc.

Review of crop residues: nitrogen contents, factors affecting rates of decomposition, and associated timing of nitrogen release into soil. Supports SVS programme objectives.

Project to validate the accuracy of this type of technology across a range of different soil types within New Zealand using a gamma ray spectrometer supplied by SoilOptix® in Canada. The results of the soil scans are sent to the parent company in Canada, together with the results of selected laboratory-based soil analyses to produce high-definition GIS based maps of up to 45 soil characteristics including: bulk density, macro and micro nutrient levels, pH, soil texture (sand% silt%, clay%), organic matter %, total and active carbon.

The goal is for NZ to become a recognised world-leader in sustainable weed management through minimising, managing and/or avoiding future herbicide resistance. Through this integrated research programme, we will deliver a range of effective and adoptable solutions by: 1.  Anticipating herbicide resistance. 2. Understanding and influencing drivers of herbicide practices. 3.  Identifying instances of resistance and their impact. 4.  Managing herbicide resistant weeds

To develop a catalogue of research work commissioned by the vegetable product groups so that historical research can be readily accessed through an online portal. Website launched November 2018. https://www.vri.org.nz 

Project to test the accuracy of residue testing between different NZ laboratories.

Resources to facilitate extension activities.

FPSC Food safety initiative [RI 2023-001]

Fill the food safety knowledge gaps in parts of the supply chain and consolidate all the knowledge into a usable form for the horticultural sector.

1. A review of existing food safety technical capacity, industry resources and available training.
2. A survey of the target audience as an input for developing appropriate extension strategies.
3. A horticulture food safety and implementation plan, which outlines the extension products and services needed by industry, the capacity required to deliver them and a commercial model for how the program could become self-sustaining. We will focus on melons, berries and leafy vegetables in the first instance given the PPP Standard is coming into effect in 2025, but are able to extend to other crops as funding becomes available.
4. The facilitation of a community of practice amongst stakeholders for ongoing collaboration.

An evaluation of the change in knowledge, skills and attitudes as a result of the project.  

Completed projects

Vegetable information systems strategy [RI 2021-004]

Crop Protection Strategy 2022 [RI 2022-002]

Neonicotinoid initiative/Agrichemical initiatives [RI 2018-003]

Nitrogen mineralisation [RI 2019-001]

This project will conduct on-farm demonstration trials with different crops, soils and climates to demonstrate the benefits of the new test to improve N management on farm. Duration: 3 yrs 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2022 SFF project.  VR&I and Hort NZ co-funders.

Monitoring biosecurity risks 2019-2021 [RI 2019-003]

Market Access Solutionz to provide on-going monitoring of biosecurity performance at the border. Engagement with MPI and Product Groups. Duration: 3 yrs 2019 - 2022. Co-funded by VR&I and FAR.

Crop Protection Strategy 2021 [RI 2021-001]

Project for ongoing management of the vegetable industry crop protection strategy for 2021.Project 1: Vegetable crop protection strategy. Project 2: Analysing non-compliances. Duration 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022

Protecting our Groundwater: Measuring and managing diffuse nutrient losses from cropping systems[ RI 2017-005] 

Network of drainage fluxmeters on arable and vegetable farms is measuring drainage and nutrient losses under cropping rotations.This project will:-         Develop and reinforce the adoption of three management practices that strongly influence nutrient losses from cropping systems.-  Enable a comparison of actual drainage and nutrient losses with OVERSEER predicted losses.-  Enable comparisons of drainage and nutrient losses between the fluxmeters and lysimeters. MfE Freshwater Environment Fund. .Duration: from January 2018 for 3 years. Programme managed by FAR. This programme brings together monitoring of all existing fluxmeter networks from Root zone reality.

An off-label use poster explaining the key rules and regulations for the NZ GAP off-label guidance document.

There is growing awareness of the need for knowledge extension on vegetated buffer strips, based on observations gathered from the implementation of the NZGAP Environment Management System (EMS). This project will develop a factsheet.

FAR led project to develop a crop rotation LCA methodology and quantify emissions across case study rotations. VR&I Board funding to support inclusion of 2x vegetable crop rotations. Duration 2020 - 2021

Project for ongoing management of the vegetable industry crop protection strategy for 2020.MS1: Update tick sheetsMS2: Refresh crop profile docsMS3: Determine gaps and liaise with crop protection companiesMS4: Identify trial options and publish final report.Projects:Project 1: Analysing non-compliances Project 2: Annual scan of Australian agchems. Project 3: EPA/MPI engagement Duration 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021

MPI have agreed to fund a 1-year ($120k) extension project (managed by FAR) to develop an extension process to roll-out the N-quicktest to arable, vegetable, and forage cropping farmers. Duration 2020. 

On farm to assess how precision irrigation can affect financial and environmental on-farm performance.MVI story map available (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ba955a035f6b4a36a0561fca054da3b5) MBIE programme: $8.4 million programme (led by Landcare)Duration: July 2013 – July 2019FAR, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Environment Canterbury, Irrigation New Zealand.

Quantifying the relative effectiveness of the key erosion and sediment control practices advocated for reducing sediment and phosphorus loss. Next steps – future plans - see EMS & sustainability dashboard project ‘Joining the dots’ report. Transfer of online app to HortNZ site, further testing and refinement. Duration: July 2015 – June 2018, plus 12-month extension.$784K SFF programme.  Co-funders: FAR, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Gisborne District Council, Environment Canterbury, Northland Regional Council, VR&I.

This project developed a simple and adoptable N Quick Test Mass Balance field guide that steps farmers through the process of deciding whether or not to apply nitrogen to their crops. N Quick test guide and tool available to download via VR&I website and linked on the Environmental Resources page. Duration: July 2016 – June 2019Co-funders: FAR, PNZ, Waikato Regional Council, VR&I.

Partnership between FANZ, VR & I, and Plant & Food Research to produce a resource of nutrient management and fertiliser recommendations. Co-Funders: PFR, VR&I, FANZ.

Uptake of good irrigation good management practice through development of resources for industry and Councils. Year 3 focus has been on service industry engagement. Continued development of an e-learning platform aimed at increasing irrigator knowledge. Early findings from this project have illustrated the need to promote a clear point of difference for accredited (design-install) companies, with an aim to build greater recognition of accreditation programmes. Co-funders: Irrigation NZ, Regional Councils, FAR, Beef and Lamb, Duration: June 2017 – July 2020.

Development of the following resources:1. Generic IPM guideline for vegetable crops 2. Development of a guideline for the design of farm washpads and management of washpad discharges. 

Improvement and finalisation of the existing web-app that has been developed for the SFF project ‘Don’t Muddy the water”. The app is available via a link on the VR&I website https://www.vri.org.nz/esc/  

Case studies to support the work being conducted by Horticulture NZ and NZ GAP to meet the requirements for Farm Environment Plans. The focus is on soils, although the lessons learned can be applied to other discharges such as nutrients. The project dovetails into the current SFF Project Don’t Muddy the Water. 

Project to maintain an ongoing agrichemical strategy for the vegetable industry.  Coordination of this programme is provided by Market Access Solutionz.4x milestones plus:Project 1: Analysing non-compliances (NZGAP/FRSP)Project 2: Annual scan of Australian agrichemical projects Duration: April 2019 - March 2020.

Development of a vegetable spray shed poster for using acephate and methamidophos Joint project between MPI NZ Food Safety and VR&I.VR&I funding approved via email 2/12/2019 The poster is available to download via the VR&I website. 

Improved control of tomato potato psyllid with the psyllid parasitoid Tamarixia triozae.This project will identify effective release strategies of T. triozae in New Zealand using a series of pilot releases adjacent to field crops (potatoes). Multiple releases will then be made around the country to ensure the establishment of T. triozae in New Zealand horticultural environments. Timeframe:  1st July 2016 – 30th June 2020. Co-funders: Tomatoes NZ, Potatoes NZ, NZ Tamarillo, Vegetables NZ Inc, Heinz-Wattie’s