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5000 BCE
Domestication of the potato
The domestication of the potato took place between 8000 and 5000 BC in what is now known as Peru and northwestern Bolivia. Since its domestication, the potato has spread around the world and is now a staple crop in many countries. -
Hydroponic farming
Hydroponic farming is the growing of plants without the use of soil, instead a nutrient solution is used to feed the plant and plenty of oxygen.
In the 17th century Jean van Helmont proved that plants obtain nutrients from water. This led to minor advances in hydroponics throughout the 18th-19th century where it was discovered by German scientists that nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus were the three main building blocks for plant growth. -
Four-field crop rotation
Building on farming practice dating back to 6000BC, a form of crop cycling to maximise land use (4 fields), balance nutrients within the soil and maximise production. It enabled the farmers to produce wheat, turnips, barley and clover to feed livestock all year round. Subsequently allowing livestock to breed all year round therefore increasing overall animal and farmed yields. -
Genetic Modification of crops
Genetic modification of crops is when the plants genetic material has been manipulated through genetic engineering. In the last 50 years major changes have occurred. 1972 two biochemists developed a technique that allowed them to cut pieces of DNA & attach to other DNA. 1976 biotechnology became commercialized allowing for the modification of genes from one species of plant into another. Today crops are still being genetically modified to be stronger, more resilient and to yield more. -
New Zealand Sheep Farming
James Cook brought sheep to NZ in 1773 and 1777.The first farms were set up in the 1840s.
Originally sheep farming was used to feed whalers. Sheep farming has played a huge part in NZ’s economy. From 1856-1987 it was the most important farming industry. Since then, dairy farming has earned more money. Sheep numbers have fallen, from 70mill in 1982 to 29million in 2014. The period between 1856 and 1987 was a boom period for sheep farming, resulting in economic prosperity of the country. -
Tractor
To increase efficiency, speed and overall reduce cost of having to maintain livestock, to draw ploughs and other agricultural equipment in the field. Barn engines and other machines had been previously designed but the purpose of this was a self propelled machine based around a locomotive type combustion engine that could pull the plough.
Time was perhaps ‘enhanced’ as there were many other inventors around in the decades surrounding this. -
First New Zealand dairy-processing operation
In 1871 farmers in Springfield formed the Otago Peninusal Co-Operative Cheese Factory. This was the first factory-style dairy processing operation in New Zealand, supplying Dunedin and exporting to Australia. The cheese factory did not make a profit as sheep farming was better paying. In 1874 the founders withdrew from their cheese making project. -
First frozen meat shipment leaves New Zealand
New Zealand’s first successful shipment of frozen meat to Britain in 1882 had a huge impact on the colony, paving the way for the trade in frozen meat and dairy products that became the cornerstone of New Zealand’s 20th-century economy. -
Quota Fishing Management System
Executed by New Zealand Government, the quota management system is a type of individual fishing quota that is used in NZ to manage fish stocks. It aims to help ensure sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources through the direct control of harvest levels. Quota is defined differently for each species in each region
Time was enhanced as there was urgent need to have a formal management system of how much seafood can be harvested to ensure that fishing is done in a sustainable manner -
Cricket Farming Thailand
Around 20,000 small scale producers raise crickets for human consumption. Cricket farming contributes to the livelihood and nutrition base of farmers.
Crickets are nutritional powerhouse, they get ground up and turned into cricket powder or flour. Products such as cricket flour have been noted to be a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of protein. Crickets reproduce quickly, are easy to maintain and don’t require huge farm lots. -
Organic farming in New Zealand
Organic farming was once seen as an extensive measure, but now farms around the world are moving to Organic farming.
Organic farming is free from chemicals or pesticides to manage human consumption to be chemical free. In 1999, Wattie’s has established a 57-hectare farm with Lincoln University to research and sustainable agriculture. -
‘Honey Flow’ Honey Harvest without smoking/disturbing the bees
Stuart and Cedar Anderson, father and son bee keepers from Australia To extract honey from the hive without disturbing the bees inside. The invention works by providing the bees with a partially complete walk of honeycomb cells that they then complete using their own made wax. The design type/performance was ‘constrained/fixed’ as it had to be a high quality, bee friendly device to harvest the honey. -
Organic Agriculture
An organic agriculture project in Turkey was undertaking for sustainable development in small rural communities. Their goal was to increase agricultural production capacity of per-urban areas for socio-economic development of small communities and preventing migration to urban centers. -
Internet of Things (IoT)
In 2014, MetService and BloomSky have worked together to create a weather camera that delivers weather information in real-time to any mobile device.
The BloomSky system measures temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind, allowing farmers to make accurate decisions on their farming.
During 2017, Fonterra will be installing more than 70 BloomSky weather stations on their farms. Allowing the enhancement in animal health, environmental sustainability, and efficient farm management. -
Managing the risks of cadmium accumulation in New Zealand agricultural soils
The aim of the project is to Provide assurance for compliance with livestock product food standards by building on current studies investigating soil properties factors influencing Cd uptake in pasture species including chicory, and existing animal models of Cd accumulation in livestock, using liver biopsies to assess the robustness of the animal models.
