MASSEY October 05 V1.indd - Massey University

DirectionsPartnerships for ResearchAgricultureNew Zealand may no longer be Britain’sfarm but the $17 billion New Zealandagriculture industry remains crucial to thelocal economy.So the news that a trust is to be set upto advance research in the agricultural andbiological sciences and funded to the tuneof $22 million – $8.95 million from theGovernment’s partnerships for excellencescheme, the remainder from industry partners– has been widely welcomed.“Enhancing New Zealand’s internationalcompetitiveness is vital if primary industryis to remain a foundation of our economy,”Prime Minister Helen Clark told a gatheringon the Palmerston North campus.The Agricultural and Life SciencesPartnership will integrate the research andeducation capabilities of Massey and Lincolnwith the requirements of industry. Thepartnership will “ensure that the on-farmand near-farm sectors of the agricultural andbiological industries continue to be led andmanaged by outstanding individuals whoare consistently upgrading their skills andcapability, are sustained by a steady influx ofNew Zealand’s best and brightest minds, andare supported and informed by leading-edgeresearch”.The trust will be established by Masseyand Lincoln Universities, with the privatesector partners to include Meat and WoolNew Zealand, Dairy Insight, Fonterra, theNew Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation, andthe Agricultural and Marketing Research andDevelopment Trust (AgMardt).The equine industryA new $5 million research partnership betweenMassey University and the New Zealandequine industry will educate more people inequine science, technology and business.“To date,” Prime Minister Helen Clarksaid at the Palmerston North announcement,“investment in equine research has beensmall compared to that in other land-basedindustries.” The Towards a Future-FocusedNew Zealand Equine Industry Partnershipaims to change that via education and researchto help the equine industry achieve its fulleconomic potential.“A feature of the high-performing sectorsof the agriculture-based economy is thetremendous value they place on an educatedworkforce and good-quality research to keepahead of the international competition,”said Professor Grant Guilford, head of theUniversity’s Institute of Veterinary, Animal andBiomedical Sciences. “We want to facilitatea similar integrated suite of educationalopportunities for the equine industry throughthis partnership.”One goal is to increase the number ofpeople with in-depth knowledge of equinescience, technology and business entering theNew Zealand equine industry to manage andgrow equine enterprises. Another is to increaseknowledge of equine husbandry and trainingto improve the skill and ability of persons toraise and train winners. The partnership isintended to reduce the incidence of injuriesthat reduce a horse’s performance or push itinto retirement.Professor Elwyn Firth of Massey will leadthe research programme, which will enlistthe collaboration of researchers at ColoradoState University; Lincoln University;Matamata Veterinary Services; OtagoUniversity; the Royal College, London; theUniversity of California, Davis; and UtrechtUniversity. The researchers will also workwith Bomac Laboratories to develop moreequine pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.At the opening of the New Zealand Guitar Centre on Massey’sWellington campus during September’s InternationalGuitar Festival. From left, Professor Benjamin Verdery ofYale University, eminent New Zealand classical guitaristProfessor Matthew Marshall and Chair of the WellingtonCity Council Arts Committee Ray Ahipene-Mercer.A highlight of the Guitar Festival, Australian group GuitarTrek.A new psychology clinic has opened as part of theWellington campus. The clinic will be used for research,to support the postgraduate clinical psychology trainingprogramme, and to provide a clinical service. Massey hasthe largest clinical psychology training programme of anyNew Zealand university, with students studying at eachof its three campuses. Pictured from left: Professor JanetLeatham, Professor Ian Evans, Hon. Annette King, Dr DuncanBabbage and Professor Ken Heskin.Individual ResearcherSupervisorResearch TeamProfessor Robert McLachlan, applied mathematicianProfessor Robert McLachlan, soilscientistThe Riddet Centre, foods research5