Technical Product Research & Development

Organisation: Venture Southland
Grant Number: A18032
Grant Amount: $46,000
Grant Type: Agribusiness Innovation Grant

Venture Southland, the Southland regional economic and community development agency and New Zealand Functional Foods have taken a leading and innovative pathway in creating viable and sustainable alternate land-use options for the region while establishing a new high value, high health industry for Southland.

Oats is something that Southland grows particularly well. In fact, the region produces some of the highest quality and highest yields globally. The focus has been on developing a high value use for oats that provide value back to farmers, creating viable and sustainable alternate land use option and the creation of a new industry for Southland, diversifying the regional economy.

The AGMARDT grant enabled Venture Southland and New Zealand Functional Foods to access global expertise to undertake the development of product formulations for 10 new products and undertaking scale product trail runs with Tetra Pak in Singapore. They were able to gain access to global beverage and formulations experts, which enabled a compressed development timeframe and outcomes that meet with highest standards and retention of the products health properties.

This work is a critical stage in allowing investment into this industry. Venture Southland and New Zealand Functional Foods are currently working with investors to develop this exciting diversification and high value opportunity.

“AGMARDT support has enabled us to access world leading expertise to build the foundations of a new industry and land-use option for Southland and New Zealand.”  Alistair Adam Business Services Manager, Venture Southland

We are grateful for the assistance the AGMARDT Grant provided. It has allowed Freshco to direct sales and manage our own destinies in each market enabling us to extract more value from the supply chain to the consumer.

John Mangan / Director, Freshco

AGMARDT supports and enables. Projects and people benefit from funding; New Zealand benefits from development of ideas, technologies, approaches and leadership. In particular, the trust facilitates information dissemination: AGMARDT is the catalyst for ripples that spread through the primary sector.

Dr Jacqueline Rowarth /

AGMARDT's support of Texus in the above process tangibly accelerated the development of the above essential activities and testing of market entry strategy, while also exposing Texus management to cutting-edge thought leadership around market shaping and the levers that can be applied to scope and facilitate such shaping.

Nick Davenport / CEO, Texus Fibre Industry Leader Scholarship Winner

The support from AGMARDT has enabled us to gain greater insights into farmer behaviour across all sectors and which will assist accelerated uptake of the livestock exchange and enhance market opportunities for all farmers.

Jason Roebuck / Managing Director, Stock-X Limited