What we fund

The T.R. Ellett Agricultural Research Trust is dedicated to strengthening New Zealand’s pastoral and grassland research sector. Our funding supports projects, people, and partnerships that contribute to practical, science-based improvements in agriculture.

We focus on initiatives that advance pasture management, grassland science, and the capability of the agricultural research community.

Our Funding Priorities

We provide funding in three key areas:

Research Projects

Supporting applied agricultural and grassland research that delivers practical benefits for farmers, industry, and the wider New Zealand economy.

Scholarships

Investing in postgraduate students whose research aligns with our mission to improve pasture and forage systems. These scholarships build future capability in agricultural science.

Partnerships

Collaborating with organisations whose goals complement ours — from co-funding multi-year research programmes to supporting initiatives that strengthen the science sector.

What We Don’t Fund

To ensure our resources are used effectively, the Trust does not fund:

• Projects outside New Zealand

• Purely commercial or product-development initiatives

• Activities that fall outside the Trust’s pastoral and grassland research focus

Recent Examples

Our funding has supported:

• PhD and Masters students researching forage breeding and pasture systems

• Multi-institution research programmes advancing ryegrass science

• Partnerships that deliver science education and sector development initiatives

Explore our Funded Projects to see examples of how Ellett Trust funding makes an impact.