NZ Agricultural Education and Fonterra

April 21 -We met with MAB international partner Daniel Conforte at Massey University in Palmerston North. Conforte and other faculty at Massey gave us a briefing regarding their food technology research and education opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

A few shorts blocks from the University, AgRearch provided us a good picture of research being done to improve pastureland and create better grass feed. Goals of their research include: improving disease and pest resistance, extending seasonal growth, and forage quality.

Our final visit of the day was to Fonterra's Research Centre. Nicola Shadbolt, who is on the board of directors, gave us an update on Fonterra in New Zealand. Fonterra is the world's leading exporter of dairy products with more than 10,500 shareholders. Producers enjoy several benefits to being a member of this large cooperative: milk is picked up, they received the best price possible for their milk, and member capital is guaranteed a fair return. Shadbolt told us the strength of Fonterra is in their supply chain - they have the ability to move the milk to production and worldwide distribution.

A two-hour drive through the beautiful country-side of the North Island took us to Wellington for a quick shopping trip downtown before boarding a plane for Christchurch.