AgResearch Ltd. NZ joins the APSIM Initiative.

Trans-Tasman collaboration in agricultural systems research has taken a step forward with AgResearch Ltd (www.agresearch.co.nz), New Zealand’s largest Crown Research Institute, recently signed up to the APSIM Initiative (AI) unincorporated joint venture. The AI was established in 2007 to promote the development and use of the science modules and infrastructure software of APSIM (Agricultural Production Systems Simulator). The Foundation Members of the AI are CSIRO, DAF and UQ.

AgResearch brings an extensive range of expertise to the AI collaboration, including science and modelling relating to:

• Dairy systems;
• Stock and pasture;
• Soil carbon and nitrogen;
• Whole farm and multi-paddock; and
• Pastoral agro-ecosystems.

In addition, AgResearch has been actively involved in the development of APSIM for several years, has led or contributed to the development of several modules including AgPasture, MicroMet and SoilNitrogen and has already contributed to over 40 indexed publications concerned with the development or usage of APSIM.