What Foundation for Arable Research does

Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is a New Zealand not-for-profit incorporated society that functions as the country's primary applied arable research organisation. It is funded primarily by compulsory commodity levies on arable crops, maize, and cereal silage collected under the Commodity Levies Act 1990, and it serves the growers who pay those levies across an industry that produces on 180,000 hectares across more than 40 different crops and contributes approximately NZ$2.1 billion to the New Zealand economy. FAR also leverages levy funds to secure additional government co-funding through programmes such as MPI's Sustainable Food + Fibre Futures Fund and the Primary Sector Growth Fund, and it operates through seven regional Arable Research Groups (ARGs) that meet three to four times annually to guide research priorities and extension delivery.

The organisation delivers a broad digital and physical research platform. Its core products include the FAR website and resource library, an AI-powered question-answering tool (Ask FAR AI, introduced in 2026) that retrieves information from FAR's research corpus, an interactive weather platform providing 14-day regional forecasts plus pest and disease predictive models (aphid and cocksfoot downy mildew), the weekly Cut the Crop podcast, the Crop Action newsletter, and Cultivar Performance Trials (CPT) booklets covering wheat, barley, and other crops. Decision-support tools include spreadsheets for cost of production across 11 crops, overhead costs, soil nitrogen supply, nitrogen use efficiency, and the economic value of nutrients in straw, as well as a Farm Management System Decision Tool built on the 1000minds survey platform. A Moisture Monitoring Trial Platform exposes growers to eleven commercial soil moisture probe systems. Market intelligence is delivered through the Arable Industry Marketing Initiative (AIMI) quarterly surveys, and the ARIA annual conference and biennial New Zealand Arable Awards serve as flagship convening events.

FAR's business model is levy-funded and not commercial: most resources and tools are free for levy payers, with revenue drawn from levies plus government co-funding and modest event registration fees. Distribution is community-led rather than sales-led. Four physical research sites — Knapdale (Southland), Chertsey and Lincoln (Canterbury), and Tamahere (Waikato) — host field trials and demonstration events, and ARGs in seven regions provide a direct grower engagement channel. Partnerships extend FAR's reach, including co-funded projects with MPI, Plant & Food Research, AgResearch (now Bioeconomy Science Institute), the Seed Industry Research Centre, the Vegetable Research & Innovation Board, the Oat Industry Group, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, EECA, and AsureQuality. Technology infrastructure relies on AWS in the ap-southeast-2 (Sydney) region, with PCI DSS Level 1-compliant payment processing via Eway/Windcave.

Name

Foundation for Arable Research

Legal name

Foundation for Arable Research Incorporated

Website

https://far.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is a New Zealand not-for-profit applied research organization funded by statutory commodity levies on arable crops, maize, and cereal silage, serving NZ arable growers with research, extension, decision-support tools, and AI-powered knowledge retrieval.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Farm Management Services (115116), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Soil Health & Regenerative Agronomy Consulting (AFACABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yield Optimization & Crop Performance Consulting (AFACABAC), Irrigation & Water Use Efficiency Agronomy (AFACABAF), Farm Management & Decision Support Software (FMIS, ERP, Recordkeeping) (AFAGALAA), Seed & Hybrid/Variety Selection Consulting (AFACABAK)

Keywords

• Arable crop research
• Agronomy research services
• Cultivar performance trials
• Agricultural extension services
• Precision agronomy tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commodity Levies: FAR collects compulsory levies under the Commodity Levies Act 1990. Three separate levies are collected: Commodity Levies (Arable Crops) Order 2024, Commodity Levies (Maize) Order 2024, and Commodity Levies (Cereal Silage) Order 2024. Levy payments are processed through the website with immediate email confirmation including GST receipt.
2. Government Funding (MPI Sustainable Food + Fibre Futures): Levy funds are used to secure additional Government funding through programmes such as the Sustainable Food + Fibre Futures Fund. FAR has received $2.6 million Primary Sector Growth Fund for the Integrated Weed Management project.
3. Event Registration Fees: FAR provides options to register and pay for attendance at events including the FAR conference. Event registrations are acknowledged immediately via email confirmation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FAR is an applied research organization that funds and conducts crop agronomy research, cultivar performance trials, and integrated weed management studies for New Zealand arable farmers. It delivers evidence-based agronomic advice, decision-support tools, market intelligence, and extension services (field days, workshops, podcasts, publications) to help growers optimize yields and profitability while ensuring sustainability. Most services are provided free to levy payers, supported by statutory commodity levy collection and government co-funding.

Product overview

The Foundation for Arable Research operates a comprehensive digital platform serving New Zealand arable farmers with research-based knowledge, decision tools, and agricultural intelligence. The core offerings include the FAR Website and Research Platform with an AI-powered Ask FAR tool for natural language queries, a Weather Platform providing 14-day forecasts and pest/disease predictive models, and the Cut the Crop Podcast for agronomic education. Research output is delivered through branded publications including Crop Action newsletters, Cultivar Performance Trials (CPT) booklets, and From the Ground Up quarterly magazines. Decision support tools include Cost of Production Spreadsheets, Overhead Cost Calculator, Soil Nitrogen Supply Calculator, Nitrogen Use Efficiency Calculator, and an Economic Value of Straw Calculator. The Moisture Monitoring Trial Platform demonstrates and provides access to 11 commercial moisture probe systems. Market intelligence is provided through the Arable Industry Marketing Initiative (AIMI) surveys. Field research is conducted at multiple sites including the Southern Arable Research Hub at Knapdale. Additional programs include ARIA annual conferences, Maize Winter Workshops, and the New Zealand Arable Awards. The platform operates as a not-for-profit, grower-funded research organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FAR Website and Research Platform Core digital platform delivering research resources, publications, decision tools, weather data, and AI-powered information services to New Zealand arable farmers.
• Ask FAR AI AI-powered natural language question-answering system that provides quick, accurate responses based on FAR research and resources, with links to original documents for further information.
• Weather Platform Interactive weather map providing 14-day regional forecasts, accumulated weather data including growing degree days and chilling units, plus weather-based decision tools (aphid model, cocksfoot downy mildew model).
• Cut the Crop Podcast Weekly podcast delivering agronomic and industry insights featuring researchers, growers and industry experts on topics ranging from agronomy to profitability.
• Crop Action Regular newsletter keeping growers up to date with arable crop development and actions across New Zealand, covering regional updates, pest management, disease control, and agronomy.
• Cultivar Performance Trials (CPT) Multi-season, multi-region cultivar trials testing wheat, barley and other cultivar performance with detailed yield and disease ratings published in seasonal booklets.
• Cost of Production Spreadsheets Excel-based gross margin and cost of production tools updated annually by Macfarlane Rural Business covering 11 crops including irrigated Mid-Canterbury scenarios for wheat, barley, ryegrass, white clover, peas, brassica seed, oilseed rape, sunflowers and maize.
• Overhead Cost Calculator Easy-to-use spreadsheet tool helping arable growers calculate farm overhead costs per hectare, complementing FAR's gross margin tool.
• Soil Nitrogen Supply Calculator Spreadsheet tool for calculating soil nitrogen supply to support nitrogen fertiliser decision-making, with instructional video guides available.
• Nitrogen Use Efficiency Calculator Spreadsheet tool for calculating nitrogen use efficiency factors when carrying out on-farm tryouts.
• Economic Value of Straw Calculator Excel spreadsheet allowing growers to calculate the economic cost of straw nutrient losses from their farm based on bale weight and nutrient values.
• Farm Management System Decision Tool Online survey tool using the 1000minds platform helping growers identify which Farm Management Systems best suit their needs through preference-based comparison questions.
• Moisture Monitoring Trial Platform Demonstration platform showcasing 11 commercial moisture probe systems (CropX, Halo, Harvest, PGG Water, Primary Insight, Onfarm Data, Vantage NZ, Resolve Water, WaterForce, Agri Water Services, Swan Systems) with dashboard access for comparative evaluation.
• Arable Industry Marketing Initiative (AIMI) Market intelligence initiative providing quarterly surveys on cereal and maize areas, volumes, storage and sales data to help growers make informed planting and selling decisions.
• Maize Winter Workshops Annual workshop series covering profitable, sustainable, and diversified maize farming systems including crop establishment and winter cover crops.
• From the Ground Up Quarterly newsletter covering industry topics including food brands, wheat yield research, and agricultural technology such as solar and batteries.
• Southern Arable Research Hub Research hub at Knapdale, north of Gore, conducting long-term trials comparing conventional and alternative crop management systems including reduced input approaches.
• ARIA (Arable Research Industry Association) Conference Annual research conference featuring talks on wheat yield, weed management, milling wheat, canopy management, biodiversity, and crop science.
• New Zealand Arable Awards Biennial awards program recognizing excellence in cereal, seed and maize growing with categories for Maize Grower of the Year, Cereal Grower of the Year, Seed Grower of the Year, Agronomist of the Year, Innovation, Environmental Impact and Working Together.

Quantifiable outcome

• World yield records for wheat and barley
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPI provides Primary Sector Growth Fund co-funding for FAR research projects. The $2.6M Integrated Weed Management project is partly funded through MPI, representing a major multi-year research initiative addressing herbicide resistance.
• EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEECA runs the Government's Solar on Farms initiative. FAR is partnering with EECA to explore use of solar and batteries on New Zealand farms, with arable farmers participating in demonstration projects.
• Beef + Lamb New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAR facilitates recruitment of South Island mixed finishing farms for Beef + Lamb NZ's national Sheep and Beef Farm survey, which has run for 75 years with 530+ farmers providing benchmark data.
• Plant & Food ResearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing research collaboration. Plant & Food Research conducted meta-analysis of 38 FAR maize tillage trials and collaborates on cultivar performance trials and various agronomic research projects.
• Oat Industry Group (OIG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAR partners with OIG on a three-year oat monitoring project assessing regional resilience of emerging milling oat cultivars in South Otago and Southland.
• Seed Industry Research Centre (SIRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIRC is a joint co-funder of the $2.6M Integrated Weed Management project alongside FAR and Vegetable Research & Innovation Board.
• Vegetable Research & Innovation BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vegetable Research & Innovation Board is a joint co-funder of the $2.6M Integrated Weed Management project alongside FAR and Seed Industry Research Centre.
• Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKVH funds the kiwifruit surveillance programme that includes BMSB trap monitoring, with Zespri Innovation providing supporting research. FAR works through SGRR (Seed and Grain Readiness and Response) on biosecurity matters.
• AgResearch (Bioeconomy Science Institute)coreTechnology or IntegrationHerbicide resistance testing is conducted at AgResearch facilities (now part of Bioeconomy Science Institute). Researchers from FAR work with weed experts from the Bioeconomy Science Institute on the IWM project.
• AgResearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing research collaborations with AgResearch on various arable research programmes and crop management studies.
• AsureQualitycoreTechnology or IntegrationAsureQuality conducts active surveillance on properties of interest for black-grass (2021 and 2025 responses), completing thorough scouting of paddocks and straw bale destruction monitoring.
• Macfarlane Rural Business (MRB)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFAR contracts MRB to update the Cost of Production spreadsheet annually, providing forecast and historical cost data for 11 crop types.
• Biosecurity New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiosecurity New Zealand leads the national BMSB surveillance system (300 traps at high-risk sites) and operates under the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) with industry partners. FAR is involved through SGRR.
• Seed and Grain Readiness and Response (SGRR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSGRR is the biosecurity organization covering the arable industry under the Government Industry Agreement (GIA). FAR works closely with SGRR on BMSB detection and response planning.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• DairyNZ: NZ levy-funded industry body for dairy farmers, investing in on-farm research and extension. Comparable governance and funding model; useful reference for FAR on levy collection, extension delivery, and tool-platform strategy.
• Beef + Lamb New Zealand: NZ statutory levy-funded industry body for sheep and beef farmers. Operates an analogous levy-funded research and extension model, including the 75-year benchmark farm survey referenced by FAR. Comparable on funding structure and governance rather than crop focus.
• Horticulture New Zealand: NZ grower-funded industry body for the horticulture sector via the Commodity Levies Act. Comparable on statutory levy funding model and grower-representation mandate, though focused on horticulture rather than arable crops.

Regional players

• Seed Industry Research Centre (SIRC): NZ joint seed-industry research entity co-funding the IWM project with FAR. Comparable as a small NZ seed/arable research body with overlapping research scope and a similar funding-leverage model.
• Plant & Food Research: NZ Crown Research Institute conducting horticultural and crop science. Long-standing research partner of FAR, conducting meta-analysis of FAR field trials and co-developing cultivar performance work. Comparable as a NZ R&D provider but operates at a broader crop/horticulture scope with Crown funding.
• AgResearch (Bioeconomy Science Institute): NZ Crown Research Institute now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute. Performs herbicide resistance testing for FAR and collaborates on multiple agronomy programmes. Comparable as a NZ R&D partner with overlapping skills in pastoral and crop systems.

Direct peers

• Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC): Australian statutory levy-funded R&D corporation for grain growers. Closest international analogue to FAR: same grower-levy funding model, same crop agronomy focus, similar CPT-equivalent programmes and extension delivery. Highly comparable on funding mechanism, mandate, and service mix.
• AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board): UK statutory levy body covering cereals, oilseeds, potatoes and horticulture. Direct peer in funding model (compulsory grower levies), applied R&D mandate, and extension tools. Provides a useful comparator for FAR's strategic trajectory and toolset.
• Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR): US non-profit established to fund agricultural research via public-private partnerships. Comparable on the non-profit applied research mission and public co-funding model, though at a much larger scale and broader crop mandate.

Emerging players

• AgFirst: NZ agricultural consultancy providing farm management, advisory, and technology services to arable and pastoral clients. Comparable as a NZ agribusiness advisory player with overlapping clients, though FAR is a non-profit research entity while AgFirst is commercial.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FARarable
• YouTubevimeo.com/fararable
• Facebookfacebook.com/FARarable
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foundationforarableresearch

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Arable Research