High Performance Manuka Plantations
Manuka Research Partnership Ltd – PGP Project $2.7 M Manuka Plantation PGP Research Project with Ministry of Primary Industries 8 Year Timeline - 2011 to 2018 Massey University – Research Provider Comvita providing Manuka Plants to the Project from its Plant Breeding Program
Program Objectives To develop the necessary Manuka Plantation husbandry knowledge to enable productivity gains resulting in a 16-fold increase in market returns from Manuka honey by doubling each of: Hives per ha Manuka honey yield per hive Manuka honey that meets medical grade Land area in Manuka economically accessible to beekeepers Net effect $1b Exports
The MRPL Co-investors Comvita New Zealand Ltd 23,000 + hives, brand and distribution, ≈$100 M turnover D and C Tweeddale 19,000+ hives ~ 60 Ha of Manuka plantation over 2 sites Nukuhau Carbon Ltd 26 Ha planted at Rangitatau West Arborex Industries – Te Awaiti station, Wairarapa Landcorp State Owned Enterprise operating 137 properties totalling 377,000 ha across the North and South Islands of NZ
The MRPL Co-investors Hawkes Bay Regional Council 150 ha planted at Lake Tutira Seeking to prove Manuka plantation as viable investment to encourage an alternative land use option New Partner who has agreed in principle to join: Te Tumu Paeroa 100,000 ha approx under Management Including 30,000ha approx of marginal land
Manuka Plantation Deliverables for Land Owners • Best Practice Seedling Propagation • Best Practice Plantation Establishment • Assess Manuka Provenance & Hybrid Performance • Build Flowering & Production Profile & Parameters • Prove Financial Business Case to retire Marginal Land • WORK IN PROGRESS – 4 YEAR REMAINING TIMELINE
Sample of Current Projects Glasshouse & growth chamber studies on Manuka 1. cultivars to examine influence of environmental factors on performance 2. Commercial field trials to understand best practice plantation establishment & management Develop predictive tools to advise most suitable 3. cultivars and best practice husbandry under particular plantation conditions
Programme so far > 2011-2013 From glasshouse & plantations: Major soil effects Cultivar effects Aspect and local effects Variability creates opportunity
Assess variability & exploit Site 1 DHA in nectar
Early plantation success Plantation manuka Plantation manuka theoretical harvest Local manuka 2012 Local manuka historical
Hives on ordinary site Mixed Manuka Manuka & Kanuka Pasture Kanuka Kanuka Kanuka Pasture
Improved cultivars, extend flowering, increase value
Commercial Field Trials
Current Sites 30 sites totalling 745ha including 596ha Comvita Plantations Sites targeted to provide a regional and environmental spread of field data Intend Plantations to provide a showcase to regions >>> encouraging faster uptake
Map of Expanded PGP Field Trial Sites
Current Modelling • Establishment costs of approximately $2,000 per ha • Planting density of 1,100 stems per Ha (3m * 3m spacings) • 25 Year production life • Floral Maturity in 6 years
Establishment at Tutira (HBRC) • Summer-dry • Exposed • Range of seed lines examined • 1000 stems/ha • 156ha established
Establishment at Tutira (HBRC) • Survival 95% in good summer 85% in bad summer • Growth (height) ≈ 80cm 1 st year ≈ 130cm 2 nd year • Flowering ≈ 100% for most lines in 2 nd year
Comvita Manuka Breeding Program Commenced in 2006 Plant Variety Rights registered on Hybrids Breeding of 2 nd Generation Hybrids underway Manuka seedlings provided to MRPL project which are being evaluated in Glasshouse & Field Trials
A contrast, wild vs improved Manuka
Integrated Plantation & Apiary Management Manuka plantation performance > 1 st Leg Conversion of nectar into honey > 2 nd Leg Understanding/optimising apiary performance > critical to value
Proving the Business Case is When “ The Rubber Hits the Road ” PLANTATION MANUKA NATURAL WORSE KEY VARIABLES [AT MATURITY] MANUKA CASE? MID-CASE? BEST CASE? 1.0 1.0 1.5 2.0 HIVES PER HA 20 30 35 40 PRODUCTION PER HIVE (KG) $15.00 $20.00 $30.00 $40.00 UMF HONEY VALUE PER KG $300.00 $600.00 $1,575.00 $3,200.00 APIARY REVENUE PER HA 15% 30% 30% 30% LANDOWNER REVENUE SHARE $ 45 $ 180 $ 473 $ 960 LANDOWNER INCOME PER HA ** 4.60% 16.70% 29.30% LANDOWNER INVESTMENT RETURN (MARGINAL IRR)???
Take Home Messages • MRPL project is work in progress – 2018 completion date • Initial results are promising • New generation of Manuka hybrids in the pipeline • Comvita looking to expand its Plantation program and are keen to talk to Owners wishing to retire land • Consider “Trees for Bees” integration into planting
Plantation Manuka - Benefits to rural NZ Commercialise alternative land use for marginal land in NZ Macro environmental & economic benefit – Pure NZ Story Flow-on benefits of wealth creation through honey industry Capability development – new beekeepers & cadets
Recommend
More recommend
