Te Puna Umanga / Venture Taranaki, the regional development agency, has put a call out to Taranaki landowners to apply to participate in their Branching Out growing trials, kicking off in Spring 2023.

The agency’s Branching Out project, now in its second phase, aims to foster an environment that allows value chain diversification opportunities to be investigated, adopted, and to flourish, in Taranaki. 

 "We have reached an exciting milestone of the project where we’ll narrow our focus to a select range of crops that have been identified as having high potential to succeed in Taranaki. A vital component in this next phase is growing trials where we look to prove that diversification is possible and that landowners can benefit economically, environmentally, and socially," says Michelle Bauer, Branching Out Project Lead. 

 The list of crops identified includes, angelica (gin botanicals), ashwagandha (medicinal plants), echinacea (medicinal plants), hemp for fibre production, hops, liquorice (gin botanicals), and sustainable crop rotation: high value grains, legumes, and vegetables.

"We are seeking to work with growers and landowners from around the region to test recommendations and methods relating to growing, harvesting, and processing. Through the trials we’ll also document the challenges, benefits and opportunities, and lessons learned as the growers and grower groups in Taranaki prepare to commercialise their efforts," continues Bauer.

For the trials to be successful there needs to be a minimum of three trial sites for each crop and the trial duration must be across at least two growing cycles. Venture Taranaki has engaged with experts to ensure the trials follow industry best practice and on-the-ground guidance will be provided by a Field Agronomist who will collate trial results and undertake analysis of performance.

"We need up to 30 trial sites from around the region and while we’ve had several interested parties, we still need more sites to get involved. Landowners and growers who participate will only need to commit to one growing cycle and will benefit from derisked knowledge and experience from growing high value crops on their land, potential profit from successful trial yields and the option to continue growing commercially beyond trials," explains Bauer.

The Branching Out project is guided by a Steering Group, who will be involved in the final selection of sites. Geographic location will be an important determinant of selection, as a good ‘spread’ of sites across the region will be required.

For more information and to apply to participate visit our Growing Trials Expression of Interest page.

Or email [email protected] for direct queries. Submissions will close on the 27 April 2023.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Branching Out is a long-term strategic project for Taranaki, developed from Tapuae Roa and aligns with the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap, the region's strategic vision for a low-emissions future.

Since 2020 the Branching Out project has identified, investigated, and validated diversification opportunities and high-value food and fibre ventures for the region to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of the food and fibre sector and the communities it supports.

The most promising ventures identified have resulted in a series of informative investor-ready blueprints, commissioned and published by Venture Taranaki they officially launched in July 2022. The blueprints have been downloaded over 2,700 times.

Through the Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund, Venture Taranaki will receive $975,000 for phase two of the Branching Out project.

This funding boost from MPI comes alongside contributions from Toi Foundation, LA Alexander Trust, AGMARDT, the region's four local councils - New Plymouth District Council, South Taranaki District Council, Stratford District Council, and the Taranaki Regional Council, as well as extensive in-kind contributions from industry partners, growers, and research institutes.

For more information visit - venture.org.nz/projects/branching-out/

ENDS

For more information contact:

Sophie Kelly | Communications and Marketing Lead, Venture Taranaki

Email: [email protected], Tel: +64 (0)6 759 5150, Mobile: +64 (0)22 352 9851