New AgriZeroNZ Fund Backs Faster Uptake of Farm Technologies

The new programme is built around a co-investment approach, with both government and commercial partners contributing equally to support technologies that show strong potential for practical use on farms.

The New Zealand Government and industry partners are joining forces on a new AgriZeroNZ initiative designed to help farmers access and adopt emerging agricultural technologies that can improve productivity while reducing emissions.

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced the Early Adoption Accelerator, a programme that will provide up to $51 million in existing government funding over the next three years. Industry partners will match that funding dollar for dollar, creating a shared investment model to bring promising innovations onto farms more quickly.

Government and Industry Share Investment

The new programme is built around a co-investment approach, with both government and commercial partners contributing equally to support technologies that show strong potential for practical use on farms.

Nicola Willis said the model ensures that all parties are committed to the success of the technologies being developed and deployed. She explained that every commercial dollar invested through AgriZeroNZ will be matched by the Government, creating a stronger pathway for innovations that can deliver real benefits for farmers. According to Willis, the focus is not only on developing new tools but also on helping farmers use them at scale, allowing the sector to remain competitive as international markets increasingly look for lower-emissions food and fibre products.

Building on Existing Progress

The Early Adoption Accelerator expands on AgriZeroNZ's existing work in emissions-reducing research and development. Since its launch, AgriZeroNZ has invested nearly $80 million across 18 companies, research projects and trials that are exploring a wide range of technologies.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said those investments have accelerated work on solutions, including methane inhibitors, probiotics, vaccines, improved pasture systems and animal wearable technologies. Many of these innovations are moving closer to commercial use, creating a growing pipeline of options that could help farmers lower emissions without affecting production levels or farm profitability.

More Options for Farmers

One technology, EcoPond, is already available to farmers, and additional tools, including boluses, are expected to enter the market later this year, while methane inhibitors, probiotics and vaccines are progressing through development and testing stages.

McClay said the programme is intended to expand the range of choices available to farmers rather than impose requirements on them. Different farms operate under different conditions, and the goal is to give farmers access to technologies that suit their individual business needs and production systems.

AgriZeroNZ is now inviting expressions of interest from companies and industry organisations that want to take part in Early Adoption Accelerator projects. The programme is expected to support the rollout of new technologies over the next three years, helping farmers gain earlier access to innovations that can strengthen both environmental performance and long-term business resilience.