Food Waste and Composting
In 2022, Massey University composted 11,563kg of food waste, compostable packaging items and paper towels.
- 6,103kg on the Manawatū campus.
- 4,320kg on the Auckland campus.
- 1,140kg on the Wellington campus.
In an exciting initiative in 2022 and 2023, PreCycle collected paper towels from the Manawatū campus Recreation Centre. This trial has recently expanded, and PreCycle aims to recycle the towels into construction materials.
Waste audits of the general waste on each campus were carried out in August 2022 using Catalysing Climate Action funding from the Vice-Chancellor.
The audits were in conjunction with PreCycle (Palmerston North), Sustainability Trust (Wellington) and OCS (Albany).
High proportions of compostable waste, mainly food and paper towels, were found on each campus. From this baseline, initiatives are underway to further increase composting levels on all campuses.
Additionally, the Manawatū dining halls have installed Leanpath technology to assess food wastage in dollars and weightage, with the ability to set goals for constant improvements.
Wharerata, the staff cafeteria on the Manawatū campus, and the Manawatū dining halls both support a community food hub, Just Zilch. Leftover daily production gets given to people needing assistance through the hub.
Creating ice cream from cosmetically imperfect cauliflowers!
EatKinda cauliflower vegan ice cream, co-developed by a Massey student and winner in the recent KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards, uses cosmetically imperfect food supermarkets can't sell.
EatKinda received investment and support through the Massey Ventures Student Investment Fund and recently won the Momentum Student Entrepreneur category in the 10th annual KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.
Elderly in aged care are at risk of malnourishment
Recent Massey research found that 83 per cent of residents in three rest homes were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The findings highlighted the need for regular malnutrition screening in residential aged care.
Free public lectures on nutrition
Massey hosted a series of free nutrition webinars for the public in 2021 and 2022 as part of World Iron Awareness Week.
Collaborations with local farmers and food producers
Massey shares its knowledge and expertise about sustainable agriculture with many local farmers and food producers.
Tiaki Wai Catchment Solutions Field Day – June 2023
This day attracted over 60 participants eager to learn about improving waterways on farms. The event featured practical demonstrations and presentations providing valuable insights to attendees.
Whenua Haumanu project
As part of the university's Whenua Haumanu project, Massey:
- Collaborated with ten Taranaki farmers committed to practising regenerative agriculture. The team is employing a participatory and co-design approach. This initiative aims to improve sustainable farming practices in the region.
- Hosted two hands-on pasture identification workshops in Taranaki and Manawatū, engaging a total of 32 farmers in December 2022 and March 2023.
- Hosted a Visual Soil Assessment (VSA) training workshop by Graham Shepherd and attended by 45 farmers, researchers and students in October 2023. The VSA is a simple field method published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and used internationally to assess soil health.
The project and its associated research were presented and discussed with:
- 30 Taranaki farmers, advisors, agriculture teachers and government agency staff in May 2023
- a group of 40 farmers from the B+LNZ Next Generation group in May 2023
- a group of 22 farmers from the Beef and Lamb, Western North Island Farmer Council in June 2023.
Sustainable Farming Fund Field Day
In November 2022, Massey hosted the Sustainable Farming Fund Field Day, tailored for local farmers and rural professionals.
The event showcased several demonstrations unveiling innovative methods to protect waterways on farms. Attendees also benefited from presentations covering the latest research in sustainability, insights into upcoming projects, and perspectives from industry and regional councils.
Massey research farms and facilities
Massey’s Farmed Landscapes Research Centre has a range of research facilities available, including controlled glasshouses, laboratories and equipment, which are often used in collaboration with local farmers and food producers to investigate and improve sustainable farming practices. Massey’s research farms also get used for many collaborative research projects. Ongoing research covers climate change mitigation, sustainable nutrient management, and Smart Farming with precision tools and technologies.
The Farmed Landscapes Research Centre also offers services to local farmers, including conducting research, product evaluations, and analytical services for soil, plant, and water.
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