By 3 News Online Staff
New plans for a world-class agricultural research and education facility have been unveiled by the Government today.
Plans for the Lincoln Hub, to be situated at Lincoln, near Christchurch, were unveiled by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy today.
The hub, which Mr Guy says has the potential to transform New Zealand's farming productivity, has been developed by Lincoln University, DaityNZ and Crown Research Institutes, AgResearch, Plant and Food Research and Landcare Research.
"The primary sector remains the powerhouse of the New Zealand economy and the Government has an ambitious goal to double exports from this sector from $30 billion to $60 billion by 2025," says Mr Guy.
The hub will bring together public research organisations, private sector players, farmers and producers.
AgResearch plans to invest $100 million in key agricultural innovation hubs around New Zealand, Mr Joyce says.
"Their investment will be one of the biggest single science investments in New Zealand in decades and it is ideally timed with the development of the new Lincoln Hub."
The Lincoln Hub will house educators, research organisations and businesses in order to drive innovation and exports as part of a key initiative of the Government's Business Growth Agenda.
"We know that every one percent increase in primary sector productivity generates an extra $4 billion in exports, and that we need to attract our best and brightest into this field. The hub will be a major step forward in meeting these challenges," says Mr Guy.
The decision to build the hub has been made as a result of Lincoln University's need to rebuild its science facilities after the earthquake.
3 News
source: newshub archive
