LandWISE Conference 2025
Havelock North Function Centre
21 – 22 May 2025
In 2025 we were delighted to hold a conference with focuses on regenerative crop production, carbon footprinting, and electrification. We had new technologies to think about and see, we had speakers with proven track records, and we caught up with old friends and new.
If we are going to get to Carbon Zero (or better) we need to think about both inputs and outputs from our systems. Can we soak up more than we release? Which inputs have the greatest impact?
See our presenters and download their presentations
Day 1
Do we know the footprint of our activities? How do international markets assess them and what will we need to report? We were proud to present Associate Professor Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula to open the conversation. We’ve done the numbers on our Carbon Positive cropping treatments, and we heard others talking about what they are doing to address their footprints too. Uttam Singh Floray zoomed in on Reporting for Primary Producers, and Ron McFetridge described how WaterForce is setting about cutting their emissions.
Dan Bloomer reported on progress and lessons from another year of our regenerative cropping research and on cover cropping and bio-strips. Matt Norris presented results for regenerative vegetable production research at LeaderBrand, and new LandWISE Board member Angus Mckenzie explained how he is applying regenerative principles in Canterbury farming. With our aim of increasing soil carbon, Sam McNally explained how soil carbon stocks change and how they can be measured.
A pillar of regenerative agriculture is keeping the soil covered, preferably with living plants. Dan Bloomer reported on lessons from Carbon Positive, and Charles Merfield discussed options and management of cover crops for regenerative cropping.
Another pillar is minimising the impact of agrichemicals, and Jeff Smith reported on A Lighter Touch research into the use of bio-strips and insectaries to support pest predators. Asha Chhagan discussed new options for pest management and Bethan Shaw described research in Cyclone Gabrielle impacted orchards and the re-introduction of earwigs. A Te Ahikawariki trial of smart insect traps was presented by Daniel Sutton supported by Chis Lambert.
Olivia Webster presented LandWISE research for Te Ahikawariki into new tools for growers to assess nitrate levels and soil stability, and had examples for viewing at the Horizons Regional Council Field Session.
Day 2
We need energy, of course, but how much can we generate on-site? Is electrification realistic now? Where to in the short to medium term? Uttam Singh Floray introduced the Electrify Everything charitable trust Rewiring Aotearoa and the local community group, Electrify Hawke’s Bay.
We were delighted to have Mike Casey of the Electric Cherry Orchard and CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa opening that discussion. Becks Smith discussed her work supporting farmers to install solar on farm, Pieter-Willem Hendriks introduced the Lincoln University Solar Farm, and Aaron Duncan used the solar system at the MicroFarm as a case study for installation at homes and SMEs. Ra Cleave and Boyd Benton covered vehicle engine transplants and micro-hydro options for power generation.
At the Horizons Field Event, we saw electric vehicles that power tools or appliances, solar and hydro-pumping and generation systems, smart insect traps, bio-strips and insectaries, the OWL weed detector, and electric robots GOVOR and Avvy.
Presentations here
Many thanks to all our Conference Sponsors – critical support for an event like this!
