Less Talk, More Action, says Uptake's John Davis

By Tristan Hooker/MediaPA

John Davis of Uptake says New Zealand has the opportunity to be a global leader in high value, highly nutritional food – but there needs to be a plan of action. 

At the 2016 High-Value Nutrition Science Symposium, held at the University of Auckland in April, experts in the field of nutrition discussed the science of developing highly nutritious food for consumers not only in New Zealand but as an export market to other regions, such as Asia.

John Davis agrees with the need to supply consumers in New Zealand and the international market with healthy, nutritious food.  However he says science is part of - but not the entire - answer.

“Let’s look at the science but we also need to take action,” says Mr Davis.  “What we’re doing at Uptake is putting into action a plan for farmers to produce exactly what the market is after.”

Uptake has been New Zealand owned and operated since 1984 and specialises in soil, plant and animal health and nutrition, using nutrient supplementation through the soil and plants.  They work closely with farmers to ensure each individual farm’s needs are met by testing the soil, talking to the farmer and tailoring eco-friendly fertilizer to suit each farm.

“We do need some science behind it, but that science has to be effective,” says Mr Davis.  “People are still making the mistake of finding a mineral deficiency in an animal and treating the animal.  There’s no action plan for restoring those minerals back to the soil. It’s all being done back at the animal.  It needs to be soil nutrition first, then the plant and the animal after that.

“When we get that right we’ll see, as our customers have seen, an increase in profits for farmers and safe, nutritious food for consumers, without damaging the environment.”

Contact Uptake:

PO Box 743, Fleet Street, Taupo

Phone: 07 378 2604

Email: info@uptake.co.nz

Website: www.uptake.co.nz

Factory Phone: 06 835 0130

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UptakeFertiliser/?fref=ts

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