Macnee, who lives in Auckland, will be working with Plant and Food Research NZ and will undertake the doctoral degree in the field of molecular plant physiology for kiwifruit.
"The appearance of fruit is a key factor for consumers when differentiating new cultivars and fruit evaluating quality," Macnee says.
"The skin on fruit, in particular kiwifruit, can be smooth or hairy depending on the level of programmed cell death used in each species.
"My research will study the molecular and physiological events that determine whether kiwifruit skin will stay alive or die during fruit development.
"The research aims to guide breeding attempts of new kiwifruit cultivars and give a greater understanding of the triggers fruit development."
The scholarship is managed by Education NZ on behalf of BayWa AG and strengthens the relationship between the German-based company and the New Zealand horticultural industry.
Deer industry change Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dean Hamilton has been appointed to the Deer Industry NZ board for a three-year term.
Hamilton joined the board as a venison processor appointee on July 1, when Dr Andrew West's three-year term came to an end.
Deer Industry New Zealand chairman Andy Macfarlane welcomed Hamilton, saying: "Silver Fern Farms is our largest venison processor and marketer and we are pleased to now have a close connection to that company through Dean's appointment. To have a leader of his calibre on the board will be an asset and is a good signal of Silver Fern Farms' commitment to the industry."
Testing gets smarter Herd improvement company CRV Ambreed has developed an industry-leading herd testing device which will make the process far more efficient for New Zealand dairy farmers.
Patsy Booth, herd testing manager at CRV Ambreed, says the device will get milk production data to farmers more quickly, which is a "great step in the right direction for enhancing and improving CRV Ambreed's herd-testing service".
CRV Ambreed employ 25 to 30 fully trained herd-testing technicians for 700 clients throughout the country.
Each technician will be armed with one of these devices, which is used to capture volume and production information at the shed.
As long as the farmer's records are up to date, the technician will be able to provide a full report to the customer on the spot.
Future full of promiseTop producers from Australia and New Zealand have applauded Shane McManaway, the founder and chairman of the Platinum Primary Producers (PPP) Group - and head of Allflex Australasia - for creating a networking forum which they expect will play an important role in future-proofing the agricultural industry.
Don Mackay, managing director of leading Australian branded beef company Rangers Valley, says the PPP Group is a collective of Australasia's smartest and most successful agri-business men and women.
It represents more than 12 million hectares and 20 million cattle, sheep, dairy cows and deer.
The group is already discussing how best to secure the future of the industry.
Troy Setter, chief executive of agri-food business Consolidated Pastoral Company, says: "We are all passionate about agriculture and about our role in producing high-quality food for a growing world.
The PPP Group considers itself as on the front foot when it comes to navigating the challenges and opportunities faced by the agricultural industries."
Setter says the diversity of the group's membership - ranging from individual private producers and big corporations through to rural bankers, economists and government advisers - means that PPP members have a "big picture" understanding of the issues that will arise.
"As well as economic factors, one area which the group is already addressing is helping our future leaders improve their skills," Setter says. "We're doing this through the Zanda McDonald Award. This is a transtasman initiative which looks to encourage agriculture's brightest young people to step forward.
The prize package is a mentoring programme which will, ultimately, shape their leadership traits and empower them to make smart decisions to ensure the sustainability of the industry in Australia and New Zealand."
Doug Avery, New Zealand-based motivational speaker and managing director of Resilient Farmer, says: "In 2005 Shane McManaway had the foresight to bring together a handful of the best agriculturalists from Australia and New Zealand.
"Now, 10 years on, we are a team of 130.
"We are proud to be farmers and are resolute in ensuring that the future for agriculture on both sides of the Tasman is full of promise."
