Current operational research projects
Here you will find links to descriptions of research projects that MAF is funding through its operational research programme.
Sustainable development
The agriculture, food and forestry sectors are based on the biophysical environment and the resources and services it provides. The sustainability of these resources and services is essential to the long run viability of the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors.
In order to better understand sustainable development, we are funding research projects that cover either or both of the following:
- the interaction between economic development and environmental protection;
- a focus on the trade-offs and interrelationships between market and material, versus the non-market and non-material, socio-economic benefits that arise from sustainable development.
Project code SUS 721 (Infometrics) Costs and benefits on near-term and long-term adaptation to climate change in New Zealand agriculture.
Project code SUS 714 (Lincoln University) Evaluation of socio-economic change in the South Island high country.
Project code SUS 702 (Landcare Research) Improving estimates of growth, recruitment and mortality for selected indigenous forest species.
Project code SUS 703 ((Landcare Research) Long-term consequences of single tree and small group harvesting of podocarps.
Project code SUS 704 (Landcare Research) Target stand structure – Longwood Forest.
Growth and innovation
Economic growth has two sources: inputs and the productive use of these inputs. Therefore, innovation, productivity and the way the agriculture and forestry sectors organise themselves and use their scarce resources have major roles to play in the sectors’ and New Zealand’s growth performance. In addition, the exporting activities of the agricultural, horticultural and forestry business remain critical to growth prospects.
The growth and innovation research project emphasises productivity, sector organisation performance and trade.
Project code GIN 726 (Massey University) Benchmarking MAF Policy’s sector productivity measures
Project code GIN 729 (AgResearch) Changing beliefs and values as they relate to New Zealand’s agricultural, horticultural, forestry and rural sectors.
Project code GIN 724 (NZIER) Compliance burden, regulatory quality and incentive: a survey of post-farm agribusinesses.
Project code GIN 723 (AgResearch) Farm businesses: adoption, adaptation and knowledge transfer and public policy.
Project code GIN 727 (Lincoln University) Indicators of success: case study of small and medium-sized agribusinesses.
Project code GIN 725 (Victoria University) Industry structure and institutional arrangements: identifying opportunities, challenges and policy implications.