Dikeman MDevine CarrickDevine CDikeman - Encyclopedia of Meat Sciences, Three-Volume Set

New Zealand is a nation founded on agriculture and, accordingly, agricultural science. Since the earliest days of European settlement, it has relied on technological and scientific advances to increase on-farm productivity and to develop new and innovative agricultural products and new ways of processing, packaging, transporting and marketing those products. I grew up on a sheep and cattle farm in the Waikato, our countrys agricultural engine room, so I have a personal understanding of the importance of our agricultural sector.

The science of agriculture, and in particular that related to animal production and meat science, as described in this encyclopedia, is reflected in the development of new technologies in many countries, of which New Zealand is an excellent example. New Zealand sits at the bottom of the South Pacific. It is a small country and the nearest large neighbour, Australia, is over 2000 kilometres away. Throughout New Zealands history, this tyranny of distance has presented particular challenges to its agricultural export industries. The technological challenges have been overcome through science; the trade challenges through determination and brainpower. Until some thirty years ago, New Zealand had a heavy reliance on the British market. When Britain entered the then EEC, our country moved to diversify its export markets and the types of goods and services exported.

The country now has a much more sophisticated economy. There has been a rapid increase in exports from the medium- and high-tech industries, and exports of high-value manufactured goods have doubled over the past ten years. Additionally, many new industries have emerged and flourished over the past decade. These include the software, electronics, biotechnology, media and film, marine and wine industries. Many of our emerging star industries leverage off our long-established agricultural science expertise; our biotechnology industry is a case in point.

New Zealand is the worlds largest exporter of sheep meat, accounting for 55 % of world sheep meat export trade (excluding trade within the EU). That is extraordinary for a country of just 4 million people. New Zealand lamb is also admired for its quality. For example, a survey of British shoppers by the UK Meat and Livestock Commission in 2002 revealed that New Zealand clearly outscored all other countries as the preferred country of origin for lamb purchases. New Zealand beef is also internationally famous for its quality, its taste and its tenderness. Our meat industry also encompasses venison, poultry, pigs, and exotic fare such as ostrich. New Zealand is able to produce such quality meats because our animals are raised on a diet of fresh pasture, and also because of the advances made in meat sciences.

Todays consumers demand rigorous standards, not only in the quality of the products but in how they are produced. That is why the New Zealand government, among others, views sustainable farming as important and achievable. Several countries, including ours, are investing significant resources in research into sustainable agriculture. New Zealand has legislation in place to protect the welfare of farm animals and of the animals used in scientific research; slaughter procedures in use today are humane. Indeed, the meat industry worldwide has taken up the concerns of the general public with a renewed emphasis on animal welfare. The effects of stress on meat quality have been, and still are, an important area of research.

This Encyclopedia is an impressive and important body of work. It covers breeding and genetics, biotechnology, processing, quality, welfare, food safety, health, and much more about the science of meat. It will be an invaluable resource to practitioners of meat science and students alike. I congratulate all the contributors and the editors on a task well done.

Helen Clark Rt Hon

Prime Minister of New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand

October 2003