SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Collaboration aims to develop technologies in agriculture

Six new Lincoln University scholarships aim to help land-based industries make better use of developing technologies. The Tait Foundation Scholarship Programme, co-funded by the Tait Foundation and the Tait Contel Charitable Trust, will support three undergraduate students, two research Master’s degrees and one PhD across any discipline at the University.

The only requirement is that students’ study or research must focus on the convergence of land-based issues and emerging radio and wireless technologies.

Lincoln University Senior Lecturer Dr Crile Doscher, who is involved with the programme, says there are many areas in the land-based industries which can be improved upon in telecommunications.

This programme will enable students to push these technologies further and contribute to the overall knowledge of their fields. Communications technology is relevant to every industry; for agriculture, a significant challenge is keeping up with technological advancements and adopting them to rural areas.

Bringing greater discussion around plastics in our lives

An annual event held at and sponsored by Lincoln University, Kim Hill Hot Topic, discussed ‘Plastic - how do we live with it’ in 2024. Well-known radio personality Kim Hill led a panel of experts discussing issues related to plastic, including problems associated with our overuse of plastic and its adverse impacts on ocean life. The discussion also examined issues related to the true importance of plastic, our capacity to reduce consumption and the methods of recycling currently in use. Panellists at this event included Rob Wilson, Operations Manager at Eco Central, Rachel Barker, CEO of Plastics New Zealand, Professor Ian Shaw from the University of Canterbury and Professor Gavin Lear from the University of Auckland.

Growing wool science capabilities in New Zealand

A five-year research project, awarded through the MBIE Endeavour Research Fund, 'Smart, functional, high-performing keratin structures for new biologically derived export products,' is examining how to develop keratin biopolymer products that capitalise on wool keratin’s unique structure.

The project, from Lincoln Agritech, a 100% owned subsidiary of Lincoln University, builds on its wool science capabilities to establish new, profitable markets for the wool industry. 

Lincoln Agritech Project Leader Dr Rob Kelly says the project aims to develop products for diverse markets, including those that control the release of microbes in soil, textile fibres superior to silk and associated garments, and ruminant boluses for controlling greenhouse gas emissions.

Project research collaborators include Harvard University, the University of Auckland and AgResearch and has been established with the support of the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand.

Demonstrating best-practice farming

In 2024, Lincoln University hosted the Global Dairy Farmers Congress on campus. The group comprised dairy farmers and dairy-related stakeholders from around the world who toured the University before joining Antoinette Archer, Partnership & Demonstration Lead from South Island Dairy Demonstration Centre (SIDDIC) at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm.

Antoinette said it was an excellent opportunity to showcase New Zealand dairy farming and the leadership team overseeing the University’s farms, which are demonstrating best-practice innovative farming practices, specifically in reducing our environmental footprint, focusing on animal welfare, and adopting a people-oriented system that provides future solutions for farmers.

Flower scanning robots could revolutionise wine industry 

A project utilising Lincoln University viticulturalists, led by the University of Canterbury, aims to develop robots for use in vineyards to record more accurate yield estimations, enabling growers to collect reliable data on the amount of fruit their vines produce.

The five-year project is supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Endeavour Fund. Lincoln University Associate Professor Dr Amber Parker said being able to accurately predict yield estimation could be a massive shift for the industry.

Greater accuracy would allow growers and winemakers to better prepare for harvest. Currently, a yield estimation within 5 to 10% is considered very good, but still leaves considerable room for variation. The autonomous robot estimates yield by creating a 3D scan with the exact number of flower structures on the vines. Every few weeks, the robot traverses Lincoln University’s vineyard, scanning the vines where viticulturalists manually collect data for comparison.

During 2024, a second robot was deployed to a Marlborough commercial vineyard and will be a part of the first full season of testing.

Building more resilient coffee supply chains

Lincoln University’s Dr Muhammad Umar conducted field research in Vietnam and China as part of an ongoing project exploring resilience and sustainability in coffee supply chains.

Dr Umar’s journey began in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, where he spent five days engaging directly with coffee farmers, processors, roasters and local research institutes. These discussions provided essential insights into sustainable practices and challenges specific to the Vietnamese coffee industry.

Dr Umar then travelled to Yunnan Province, China, to study the Arabica coffee supply chain. In Pu’er, a prominent coffee-producing region, he collaborated with staff and students from Yunnan Agricultural University. The team conducted comprehensive assessments covering coffee planting, processing and sales, with a particular focus on resilience against climate change and sustainable practices at each stage.

This collaborative research involved visits to Munai and Nandao River coffee regions and engagements with industry stakeholders, including Sucofina, Ziyuan Coffee Factory and Meizi Coffee Manor. These visits highlighted innovative practices, such as advanced grower training, product quality management and the integration of cultural tourism with traditional coffee businesses. Associate Dean of the International College at Yunnan Agricultural University, Lu Yao, underscored the value of linking Lincoln University’s research strengths with practical fieldwork in China, enhancing both institutions' capacity for impactful teaching and research.