Consultation and Farmer Updates

Further Information Addressing Farmer Feedback to NZMB’s Consultation proposing to provide industry-good funding from reserves to B+LNZ’s NextGen Insights and Data Platform Project 

Outcomes of NZMB’s Consultation on the Proposed Project 

Thank you to farmers who provided feedback to NZMB’s consultation on the proposal to grant industry-good funding from its reserves to support B+LNZ’s NextGen Insights and Data Platform project (Project). This consultation follows B+LNZ’s application for funding as per the Reserve’s Policy.

Farmer feedback showed strong support (72 percent in favour) for modernising the sheep and beef sector’s data and insights capability using funding from NZMB’s reserves to support the scale and speed of the build and delivery of the Project. Many supporters noted the vital importance and value for B+LNZ’s Sheep and Beef Farm Survey evidence base and acknowledged the need to upgrade legacy technologies. 

Farmers also shared concerns about the total cost of the Project, governance and delivery risks with keen interest that they be managed to ensure Project success. Additional concerns included the benefits for farmers, use of reserves versus reprioritising B+LNZ’s available income, cost to the reserves, importance of protecting farmer data, privacy, ownership and future-proofing the platform and how the new platform will work alongside other industry data systems.

The Board considered all feedback and shared key insights with B+LNZ. Consequently, B+LNZ has provided information to address those issues relevant to the ownership, governance, delivery, cost and benefits of the Project via this link. 

Following consideration of farmer feedback in August, NZMB’s Board approved funding from reserves of up to $1.3 million over the 2025-26 (up to $0.3 million) and 2026-27 (up to $1.0 million) financial years to the Project, subject to satisfactory milestone reporting. 

What is the application process for industry-good funding?

Following application from B+LNZ, NZMB may agree in principle to consult farmers on providing grant funding from its reserves to support industry-good projects. 

Decisions on allocating reserves funding are made in accordance with NZMB’s Reserves Policy and the Meat Board Act 2004 (Act).

The Act requires NZMB to consult with farmers before allocating reserves funding to an industry-good project.

In considering an application, the Reserves Policy sets out criteria for the Board to consider including whether:
•    the project has potential for positive benefit to farmers and the wider red meat industry;
•    the project is for the collective good of the industry; 
•    because of its nature and/or scale, falls outside activities that can be fully funded by B+LNZ levies; and
•    reserves would be better applied to deliver industry-good benefits back to farmers, thereby reducing the need for levy funding, rather than increasing the total level of reserves.

If funding is approved, B+LNZ remains responsible for the Project, including its ownership, governance, delivery, monitoring, and reporting against project milestones to NZMB’s Board.

Current: 4 September 2026