Funded Projects

The T.R. Ellett Agricultural Research Trust is proud to support projects that strengthen New Zealand’s pastoral and grassland research sector.

From postgraduate research to multi-year collaborations, our funding enables science that improves pasture management, supports sustainable farming, and builds capability across the agricultural industry.

Our Project Portfolio

We fund a wide range of initiatives, including:

• Postgraduate Research – Masters and PhD students investigating forage science, pasture systems, and plant breeding.

• Applied Science Projects – Practical research that delivers direct benefits to New Zealand farmers and the wider industry.

• Collaborative Programmes – Multi-institution projects co-funded with universities, research institutes, and industry partners.

• Sector Development – Initiatives that grow capability in agricultural science and support future innovation.

Project Highlights

Our funded projects have contributed to:

• Breeding improved ryegrass cultivars for New Zealand conditions

• Advancing sustainable pasture management practices

• Supporting young scientists to build careers in agricultural research

• Strengthening the link between science, education, and industry application

Here’s more information on the research projects we have funded

• Understanding and improving soil using simple tools that allow everyone to assess its health

• Resilient Pastures Programme

• Invasive plants: new illustrated guides for managing Aotearoa New Zealand weeds

• Production and Persistence of Alternative Pasture Species

• Pushing the boundaries of catch crops

• Deriving quantitative genetic parameters for key traits in red clover

• Pasture Persistence Trial

• Agyields – Database

• Northland Diversified Forages Project