DAIRY LEADERS IN NEW ZEALAND OPEN DOORS TO NORTHERN IRELAND

Operations at Synlait in Canterbury, one of New Zealand's biggest dairies, were studied by members of the 25-strong delegation from Northern Ireland at the start of the 10-day business mission to the country. The mission, organised by Invest Northern Ireland, is designed to enable members to study best practice in food production in New Zealand. Over 80 visits and meetings are scheduled during the visit, the biggest-ever from Northern Ireland to New Zealand. The intensive programme includes visits to farms, processing plants in dairying, beef, lamb and venison and a series of briefings from industry groups and university experts. Visiting the Synlait plant in Canterbury were David Dobbin, chief executive of United Dairy Farmers, Tim Acheson, general manager, Pritchitts, and Maimie Neill, farm liaison officer, Fivemiletown Creamery. Peter Curran, Invest NI, said: ???Synlait is an excellent example of the strategic approach to exports. The company is moving to become New Zealand's first genuine cow-to-customer dairy export company. ???Synlait produces more than 50 million litres of milk annually and is currently expanding its operations to double production, one per cent of New Zealand's total milk production. ???It is also developing its business by expanding milk powder production and high-value functional ingredients to the world's leading functional food manufacturers. It is focusing resources to take total control over production, processing, marketing and distribution to guarantee customers absolute food safety, security and traceability.??? The dairy group also visited Westland Milk Products, Canterbury Cheesemongers, a producer of handmade cheeses, and the South Island Dairying Development Centre at Lincoln University, a specialist in dairying technology.