Pioneering a paddock-to-product approach to land diversification
The Branching Out project is equipping Taranaki landowners, growers, businesses, and value chain participants with the knowledge, tools, and support to explore and implement high-value alternatives to traditional land use.
With fertile soils, reliable water availability, and a temperate climate, Taranaki is well-positioned to unlock untapped potential for a range of sustainable food and fibre production opportunities.
To date, the project has demonstrated the successful cultivation of over a dozen trial crops, including garlic, hemp, angelica, and kūmara, across 13 trial sites in Taranaki.
Alongside growing trials, Branching Out is also securing pathways to market and supporting the development of in-region processing infrastructure.
Additionally, ongoing market research, product innovation, and industry collaborations aim to enhance farming resilience, create new revenue streams, and support sustainable growth for landowners and producers alike.
If you’re a landowner, farmer, grower, food manufacturer, or investor looking for new, high-potential food and fibre opportunities, we encourage you to explore our progress and to get involved.
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Why diversify?
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Boost resilience
Explore alternative land uses that create new revenue streams. -
Unlock new markets
Discover pathways to high-value domestic and export opportunities. -
Adapt to change
Build a more flexible operation that can respond to changing climate, conditions, and emerging market trends. - Shape the future
Be part of building a more sustainable and resilient Taranaki, ensuring economic, social and environmental benefits for generations to come.
We’re paving the way for farmers, investors and other regions - pioneering a strategic, repeatable research process
Phase Two (Underway)
Building on our research from phase one we’re conducting crop trials around the region, targeting commercial viability studies, and investigating value chain development opportunities.
Crop trials are underway in partnership with committed landowners, horticulturalists, and dairy farmers. The trials will be held over two production cycles to assess the performance of different crop varieties and cultivation practices. Through systematic observations and data collection, the Branching Out project team aims to provide farmers with enough data to make informed crop selection decisions for specific areas, as well as optimising agronomic practices to ensure economic viability and sustainability.
Simultaneously, the project is progressing each venture towards launch stage, developing investment models required for implementation. Extensive market research is underway to validate that locally grown products address specific business needs and provide tangible value in the commercial environment.
Phase One (Completed)
Phase One identified 11 innovative, commercially viable food and fibre value chain opportunities, with potential to strengthen and diversify the Taranaki economy.
The project gathered input from a wide range of industry participants; landowners, interested growers, manufacturers, food and fibre entrepreneurs, as well as potential commercial partners and investors to ensure community support and buy-in for each opportunity.
Crown Research Institutes and universities were engaged to provide robust research that underpins each venture selection. Work has also been undertaken with commercial partners to support the development of product prototypes with significant market potential, and a core focus on sustainability and waste reduction.
The project’s investigations, collaborations, and potential commercial pilot opportunities have been presented as investor-ready Venture Blueprints, downloadable below.
We’re paving the way for farmers, investors and other regions - pioneering a strategic, repeatable research process
Building on our research from phase one we’re conducting crop trials around the region, targeting commercial viability studies, and investigating value chain development opportunities.
Crop trials are underway in partnership with committed landowners, horticulturalists, and dairy farmers. The trials will be held over two production cycles to assess the performance of different crop varieties and cultivation practices. Through systematic observations and data collection, the Branching Out project team aims to provide farmers with enough data to make informed crop selection decisions for specific areas, as well as optimising agronomic practices to ensure economic viability and sustainability.
Simultaneously, the project is progressing each venture towards launch stage, developing investment models required for implementation. Extensive market research is underway to validate that locally grown products address specific business needs and provide tangible value in the commercial environment.
Phase One identified 11 innovative, commercially viable food and fibre value chain opportunities, with potential to strengthen and diversify the Taranaki economy.
The project gathered input from a wide range of industry participants; landowners, interested growers, manufacturers, food and fibre entrepreneurs, as well as potential commercial partners and investors to ensure community support and buy-in for each opportunity.
Crown Research Institutes and universities were engaged to provide robust research that underpins each venture selection. Work has also been undertaken with commercial partners to support the development of product prototypes with significant market potential, and a core focus on sustainability and waste reduction.
The project’s investigations, collaborations, and potential commercial pilot opportunities have been presented as investor-ready Venture Blueprints, downloadable below.
Which venture suits your land or business? Browse the latest research, trial outcomes, upcoming events, and market prospects for each opportunity.
We currently have 12 active trials around the region
Twelve trial sites have been established across the region in collaboration with local landowners, showcasing ten crops across six of the ventures.
These sites are managed by Branching Out’s field technicians, who work closely with trialists. Additional agronomy support is provided by scientists from leading Research Institutes, ensuring trials are grounded in robust science and methodology.
All trial data is captured using a custom web-based app developed for the project, enabling scientists to download and analyse the information for statistical insights and further refinement.
Download our Venture Blueprints here
Wondering if your land or business could diversify?
We can help you understand the opportunities that may be available for your land and your particular operation/circumstance. Whether it's initial advice, or pointing you in the right direction, we're happy to help.
The scope and scale of Branching Out is significant - take a look.
Branching Out has fostered an environment for diversification opportunities to be investigated.
Through extensive research and collaboration with our engaged community our selection of ventures prove the possibilities in front of us to diversify the Taranaki economy, building on our strengths and capitalising on our untapped potential.
Take a look.
Taranaki Land and Climate Assessment
Venture Taranaki has released an assessment by Plant & Food Research on the land and climate in Taranaki, which provides an overview of our region’s growing capability, and the opportunity to help meet long-term goals of building diversity, value, sustainability, and market and supply-chain resilience.
A key finding of the released Taranaki Land and Climate Assessment is that there are around 207,000 hectares of land potentially suitable for generic horticulture within the boundaries of the Taranaki Regional Council.
The eight mainstream crops covered in the assessment include apples, kiwifruit, avocados, blueberries, hops, hemp and CBD cannabis, hazelnuts and walnuts, potatoes, and wine grapes.
Thanks to our funders
Branching Out is funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFFF), and the region’s three district councils - New Plymouth District Council, South Taranaki District Council and Stratford District Council.
Significant in-kind support is provided by Venture Taranaki, Toi Foundation, Massey University, New Zealand’s Crown Research Institutes, and enterprises involved in the Taranaki primary sector, and food and fibre industry.
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