Crown research institute AgResearch announced major restructuring plans last Wednesday.
They included shifting 85 jobs from Invermay, near Mosgiel, to other parts of the country by 2016. AgResearch chief executive Tom Richardson said two large campuses were proposed, one at Grasslands near Palmerston North and one at Lincoln. In the next three or four years, about 280 science and support roles were likely to be relocated as facilities became available there.
The campuses would be part of agriculture innovation hubs with key sector partners at both locations. Science at Grasslands would focus on food, nutrition, animal health and forage, and Lincoln on farm systems and land use.
Activities at Invermay, which would have about 30 staff, and Ruakura, near Hamilton, which would retain 90 staff, would concentrate on specific environmental and farm systems. Courier Country asked industry representatives their opinion.
Waikato University agribusiness professor Jacqueline Rowarth says AgResearch's geographical reorganisation reflects yet another attempt to increase productivity in science from an ever-more- pressurised income base.
''The signals it sends about careers in science are dire in an era when other developed countries are ramping up research spending and recruitment as they seek economic development,'' Prof Rowarth said.
Lincoln University vice-chancellor Dr Andrew West says the university welcomes AgResearch's proposal to significantly expand its scientific and technological presence at Lincoln. It was a response to the ''highly vibrant farming and food sectors'' resident in the South Island, he said. Lincoln University anticipated it would expand its relationship with AgResearch through the auspices of the Lincoln hub, Dr West said.
Beef and Lamb New Zealand Central South Island director Anne Munro says it is supportive of changes that mean AgResearch can operate more efficiently and effectively on research.
''We look forward to this generating greater returns for the sheep and beef industry ... At the same time, however, we are extremely saddened and disappointed at the severe impact these changes may potentially have on Invermay,'' Mrs Munro said.
The deer industry will continue to work with AgResearch whatever the outcome of its restructuring.
New Deer Industry New Zealand chief executive Dan Coup said on Friday it was critical to bear in mind that the changes announced last Wednesday were proposals and staff would have the opportunity to comment on them before anything was finalised.
''We don't want to prejudice the process.''
The proposals were ''pretty substantial'' and were likely to have a marked impact on Invermay, Mr Coup said.
''The deer industry is very tightly tied in to the people on that campus.''
However, AgResearch was not proposing to get rid of the roles they fulfilled, he said.
''There are some challenges, and also some opportunities. Our plan is to keep working closely with AgResearch.''
Recent conversations between the two parties showed they were committed to continuing their partnership, Mr Coup said.
Electronic communications meant that, to a certain extent, they could do so from wherever the personnel were located, whether at Invermay or Lincoln.
There would also be new prospects for closer relationships with Lincoln, he said.
''There is quite a lot of work to do. They will work it through with their staff, then with us, as to how we will work in the future. There are challenges but they're all doable.''
Horticulture New Zealand president Julian Raine says, while the industry body works more closely with the crown research institute Plant and Food Research, it supports any move that strengthens New Zealand's ability to increase its efforts around research and development in the agriculture sector.
''Lincoln is a well-established and long-standing area of intense agricultural education, innovation and initiative. This relocation is likely to enhance that even further,'' Mr Raine said.
Federated Farmers vice- president William Rolleston says Federated Farmers is backing AgResearch's ''important strategic'' move. The crown research institute's plan to create two major research campuses, at Palmerston North and Lincoln, supplemented by two smaller ones, would be key in helping primary exports reach $64 billion by 2025, Dr Rolleston said. The challenges would be to maintain AgResearch's link with the University of Otago's genetics team and for Lincoln University to continue to build its capability.
''The downsizing of Invermay must not see a reduction of AgResearch's capability in either sheep or deer,'' Dr Rolleston said.
DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle said his organisation was keen to see AgResearch retain its research capability throughout the change process, ''because the sector really needs to hold on to that capability for everyone's benefit''.
''We want them to stay in touch with regional issues, particularly in the Waikato, which is still New Zealand's largest dairy region and has always been the crown research institute's main base,'' Dr Mackle said.
''We want to see AgResearch continue to focus nationally. It's very important they remain connected with other regions, as they move to consolidate more staff at Lincoln and Palmerston North.
''The Lincoln hub concept is very important, attracting industry, including commercial players, to work alongside scientists and lecturers to keep them in touch with farmers' and the industry's needs.''
DairyNZ would be an integral part of the Lincoln hub, he said.
''We see that as a hugely positive move that will bring many benefits to dairy farmers in the South Island, given the growth in dairying there.
''We will all be co-located in one place, and having an industry body like DairyNZ working closely with crown research institutes will mean quicker and easier transfer of knowledge and innovation direct to farmers.''
One of the main benefits would be helping to attract and retain the best staff in a facility where they could interact and develop a ''strongly networked community'', Dr Mackle said.
''More importantly, it's also about getting better outcomes on-farm for industry through education and research.''
DairyNZ was pleased the farm systems focus would stay at Ruakura, as most of its scientists who worked on that aspect were based in Hamilton, he said.
''We all work at a national level, and it's always a balancing act where to put what resources around the country. DairyNZ faces the same challenges.
''We are all working together on getting best use of research and demonstration farms around the country, and we have been consulted on that decision and we support their approach.''