AgriZeroNZ has secured an additional $117 million from major agribusinesses, banks and the New Zealand Government, giving the public-private partnership a total funding pool of $308 million to accelerate technologies aimed at reducing agricultural emissions.
The new funding comes on top of the $191 million previously committed to AgriZeroNZ, with the Government continuing to match private-sector contributions dollar for dollar. Red meat processor and exporter Alliance and rural supplies co-operative Farmlands have also joined the partnership, broadening its reach across New Zealand’s farming and food supply chains.
The new capital comes as pressure grows on agricultural producers to reduce emissions while maintaining the productivity and export competitiveness that underpin New Zealand’s food economy.
“Many of our major export customers expect progress on emissions reductions across their supply chains, through to New Zealand farms,” said Rob Hewett, chair of AgriZeroNZ. “If we want to maintain New Zealand’s competitive advantage and reputation as a trusted supplier of premium food products to discerning customers around the world, we’d be wise to listen to them.”
AgriZeroNZ was established in 2023 to identify and support technologies that could give New Zealand farmers practical ways to reduce emissions. It has so far invested more than $80 million across 21 ventures, research projects and trials, with its portfolio spanning methane inhibitors, probiotics, genetics, pasture technologies, vaccines and wearable devices.
The focus is increasingly shifting from research to deployment. AgriZeroNZ says sustained funding is needed to take technologies through development, testing and regulatory approvals before they can be adopted widely on farms.
“Getting tools into farmers’ hands is critical to shift the dial on our emissions footprint,” Hewett said.
Chief Executive Wayne McNee said the additional funding would allow AgriZeroNZ to maintain its support for technologies as they move closer to commercial use.
The organisation's first backed technology likely to reach farmers is a methane-inhibiting bolus developed by New Zealand company Ruminant Biotech. AgriZeroNZ has invested $5.8 million in the company, with the product currently undergoing regulatory approval.
The broader portfolio reflects the uncertainty inherent in developing new agricultural technologies. Some projects will fail, but AgriZeroNZ expects continued investment to result in a wider choice of emissions-reduction tools for farmers by 2030.
“We’re backing some of the world’s best innovators and scientists and they need sustained support to get these new technologies through development, testing and approvals so farmers can trust they’re proven, safe and effective,” McNee said.
Alliance and Farmlands bring additional reach into the farming sector. Farmlands, New Zealand’s largest rural supplies co-operative, has more than 80,000 shareholders, while Alliance is one of the country’s leading red meat processors and exporters.
Their participation adds greater representation from the dairy, livestock and rural supply chains at a time when emissions requirements are increasingly being shaped not only by domestic policy but also by international food markets.
“Together, the AgriZeroNZ partners represent the vast majority of New Zealand’s dairy and red meat sectors, with strong links right through the supply chain,” Hewett said.
For AgriZeroNZ, the bigger challenge is no longer simply finding promising technologies. It is getting those technologies through the costly and time-consuming stages of validation, regulatory approval and commercial deployment—and ensuring farmers have solutions that can reduce emissions without undermining profitability.
The partnership is betting that deeper collaboration across government, agribusiness, finance and the food supply chain can accelerate that transition.
