New Senior Scientist For DairyNZ In South Island
NEW ZEALAND - DairyNZ has appointed a new senior scientist at its South Island base in Lincoln who will be focusing on the challenge of maintaining dairy farms’ productivity while lowering their footprint.
1 November 2011
2 minute read
Dr Ina Pinxterhuis comes from the Netherlands where she was a senior researcher and project manager in the Animal Sciences Group with the world-leading Wageningen University and Research Centre.
She completed her PhD project in pasture ecology at AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North (1991-1994).
“We’re delighted to have been able to attract someone of Ina’s calibre back to New Zealand,” says DairyNZ Principal Scientist – Feed and Farm Systems, Dr David Chapman.
While at Wageningen, Ina led several large farming systems research and development projects, mostly related to dairy and the challenge of managing environmental impacts while sustaining economic viability. Almost all of these projects have involved collaborating farmers, rural professionals, and environmental and community groups, as well as researchers and extension staff.
“Her arrival at DairyNZ greatly increases our ability to lead systems research projects addressing the productivity – footprint challenge in the South Island and that involves key regional stakeholders – and most importantly, dairy farmers,” says Dr Chapman.
Dr Pinxterhuis says the attraction of DairyNZ was that it has consulting officers, developers and researchers all in the one company.
“There are a lot of challenges for the dairy industry here. They require a joint effort of many stakeholders and a great variety of expertise and approaches is needed. DairyNZ can and should be a leader in many of these processes. There’s a lot to do and I’m excited to be part of it,” she says.
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