Funding fuels Hurunui ag-tech start-up

  North Canterbury farmer Roger Johnson says it makes little sense for New Zealand to rely so heavily on imported nitrogen when a rich natural source already exists within farm systems. Supplied.

Āmua, a Canterbury start-up based on a farm near Waiau in the Hurunui district is developing world-first wearable technology for cows that could change how farmers manage nitrogen on farm.

For Āmua co-founder and chief executive Roger Johnson, a North Canterbury farmer, the idea grew from a desire to find a practical, farmer-led solution.

“We’re a bunch of farmers working on this for other farmers. The whole idea is to use what we’ve already got on farm, turning a natural resource into something that grows more pasture and saves money on fertiliser.”

 Āmua has secured $1.2 million in seed funding from AgriZeroNZ to accelerate the development of its smart device, designed to repurpose nitrogen in cow urine as fertiliser.

By dispersing concentrated urine patches across the paddock, the device has the potential to deliver the same pasture growth as synthetic fertiliser while dramatically reducing environmental impacts.

Modelling by AgResearch suggests reductions in nitrous oxide emissions of up to 95 percent and nitrate leaching by 93 percent.

Johnson says it makes little sense for New Zealand to rely so heavily on imported nitrogen when a rich natural source already exists within farm systems.

“About 70 percent of nitrogen used in New Zealand is imported, yet we’re sitting on an incredible nitrogen resource right here on our own farms.”

“This isn’t about methane. It’s a simple, practical solution to help farmers cut costs and reduce nitrogen loss at the same time.”

While details remain under wraps until patents are finalised, Johnson says more than two years of research support the technology’s potential.

“We’ve made some big claims on our website, but they’re real and backed by more than two years of research. It’s exciting, but we just have to be careful until the patent process is complete.”

1.      AgriZero chief executive Wayne McKee describes Āmua  as a ‘ brilliant example of Kiwi ingenuity’. Supplied.

The $1.2 million investment from AgriZeroNZ is part of a seed-funding round to move the project toward a minimum viable product (a basic but functional prototype)  and pilot farm trials in 2026.

 AgriZeroNZ chief executive Wayne McNee says Āmua represents a fresh approach to tackling a longstanding challenge.

“Āmua is a brilliant example of Kiwi ingenuity to tackle a common challenge on-farm and potentially deliver a range of environmental and economic benefits,” he said. “Methane gets a lot of attention in the emissions landscape, but cutting back nitrous oxide can also play an important role in lowering our overall emissions and meeting the targets set by some of our biggest export customers.”

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis also praised the innovation, calling it an example of grassroots ingenuity at work.

“This is Kiwi innovation at its best: smart technology designed on the farm, for the farm, turning waste into a valuable fertiliser and maintaining New Zealand’s leadership in low-emissions pasture-based farming,” Willis said.

Johnson says the focus remains on delivering a practical, cost-effective tool for farmers.

“What we’re doing has to be a win for farm revenue. If we’re asking farmers to change how they’ve managed nitrogen for decades, it needs to be a no brainer, more pasture for less cost.

Johnson says the technology is about practical innovation, not theory.

“This is just Kiwi farmers helping Kiwi farmers.

“We’ll be able to share more detail once further patents are published next year, and then we can really show people what this technology can do.”