Community Engagement and Knowledge Sharing Strengthen the Carbon Positive Project

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Outreach continues to be a cornerstone of the Carbon Positive Project, with a busy winter of field events, presentations, and national and international engagement.

Two on-farm field walks in July and August drew strong attendance, including growers, advisors, and the Process Vegetables NZ Board. These sessions allowed visitors to see the cover crops, soil moisture trends, and grazing impacts firsthand. Discussions at these events led directly to management changes—particularly the decision to use sheep to manage biomass in the Hybrid and Regenerative treatments, rather than mowing heavy winter growth.

The project team also delivered a series of presentations across the sector. MPI’s On Farm Support team visited the MicroFarm for a detailed overview of the trial’s first three years and future plans. Agri-science teachers from Hawke’s Bay attended sessions aimed at supporting curriculum with real-world examples of regenerative and transitional cropping research.

International interest continues to grow, highlighted by an August visit from the AUSVEG New Zealand Tour Group. Australian growers were especially interested in the biodiversity strips, insectary pods, and the custom strip-sprayer designed for diverse cover crops.

Massey University horticulture and plant science students also toured the site, gaining insights into soil health monitoring, irrigator technology, and in-field experimentation.

Regular updates continue through the LandWISE website and newsletters, including features on winter cover crop performance, soil monitoring, and the upcoming butternut season. This outreach ensures that the findings of the Carbon Positive Project are shared widely supporting growers, educators, and researchers across New Zealand.