What we do

Crops for Southland (CFS) was born out of a need recognised in 1994. The Southland District Council and associated groups recognised that developing alternative land uses was crucial for Southland, and New Zealand, to maintain its edge in the agricultural sector.

Crops for Southland now obtains its core funding for day-to-day activities from Venture Southland. It also has its own Board of Directors with members from a wide range of business, agricultural and horticultural backgrounds. CFS is ideally placed to facilitate and foster new developments in the agricultural sector.

By using Project Groups of expert people keen to work on specific projects, CFS has developed the trial and demonstration sites at the New Crop Centre and fostered a number of product groups and enterprise developments in southern New Zealand. These include the bio-oil and ornamental flower crop industries, hazelnut growers, Farmers Markets, and other specialist grower groups.

Crops for Southland adopts a three-pronged approach to achieving its objectives:

1. Research
Research projects are selected that offer a recognisable competitive advantage for Southland, that are market led, with interest and participation by proponents or partnerships. They are usually externally funded.

2. Technology Transfer
Crops for Southland uses a range of techniques to get information out to the general public. This includes maintaining a New Crops Centre as a place of excellence where a range of crops can be a demonstrated, publishing useful information via the Internet, conducting seminars and public meetings, and facilitating grower-based discussion groups.

3. On Farm Support
As well as running a general technology transfer programme, more specialist consultation on specific crops is available to those interested. This includes one-on-one visits from staff.