Land Use Change & Intensification

A New Zealand Research Commercialisation Success Story

The Land Use Change & Intensification programme involves scientists from both Plant & Food Research and AgResearch.

The aim of the programme is to ensure that the productive capacity of New Zealand’s agricultural land is sustained or enhanced in the face of land use change, intensification of land use and climate change while maintaining soil and groundwater quality.

The programme has developed a range of computer-based soil, crop, nutrient and irrigation management tools, including simulation models and on-farm calculators and improved soil and crop management practices, enabling farmers to improve the economic performance of intensively managed land and reduce the environmental impacts.

The Land Use Change & Intensification programme was a finalist of the Commercialisation Collaboration Award at the 2013 KiwiNet Awards.