We are a group of Year 12 students from Mount Aspiring College in Wanaka, New Zealand, united by a shared goal: to improve soil health and empower young women to reconnect with the land
Together, we founded Nu project inspired by the su mission of Girls who Grow leadership, independence environmental connection women
Our journey began with a realisation: the food we co comes with unseen conse the land and communities it. We question its origins of the systems that sustai sparked a desire to delve challenges facing New Ze agricultural industries, and the solution
As we explored these issu discovered the widesprea poor soil health on South farms. This not only affects the land but also the cows that rely on nutrient-rich farms, leading to reduced milk quality and farm productivity
Story telling
Through the development of the project it strengthened our belief that young voices, especially those of young women, can bring meaningful change to industries where they are often unheard In the agricultural community, it can feel like trying to raise your voice in a crowded stadium, but we believe projects like ours can help strengthen those voices.
Supported by the ethos of Girls who Grow New Zealand, our work is rooted in addressing environmental issues while inspiring others to reconnect with the land. We are not just building a prototype; we are nurturing a vision for a healthier, more sustainable future one where both people and the planet thrive together.
P u r p o s e w i t h p a s s i o n
Otago farming communities face challenges relating to declining biodiversity, degrading soil health, increased climate risks that threaten long term agricultural productivity and ecosystem resilience.
How might we develop a solution that improves soil health, restores biodiversity, and mitigates climate risks by utilising organic vitamins, minerals, and natural nutrient-rich solutions to support resilient ecosystems and farming practices?
Regional Challenges
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Southland: High annual rainfall 1,000–1,200 mm contributes to frequent waterlogged conditions, which are harmful to soil health, and excess water can lead to nutrient run off West Coast: High rainfall (exceeding 2,000 mm annually). Leading to leaching, where heavy rains wash away essential minerals from the soil, particularly nitrogen and potassium. The region's acidic soils naturally lack many essential nutrients, requiring regular supplementation.
Phosphorus Imbalance: Over 50% of soil sites in New Zealand show phosphorus levels outside the range, either too high or too low. This imbalance impacts both soil health and runoff management.
Soil nitrogen application: limits have been set at 190 kg/ha/year in pastoral areas due to risks of nitrate leaching. Excess nitrogen affects soil and water quality, although a percentage breakdown is specific to regions with intensive farming
Erosion: Approximately 192 million tonnes of soil are lost annually due to erosion, equivalent to 400,000 dump trucks of soil per week. This loss reduces productivity and affects water quality and ecosystems
Urban expansion: has consumed fertile agricultural land, If trends continue, fruit and vegetable prices could rise by up to 58% by 2043 due to a lack of productive land.
Nutri-Cow
OUR MEANINGFUL SOLUTION
Soil health is crucial for sustainable agriculture and impacts the entire ecosystem, including livestock. Poor soil health on dairy farms has led to nutrient deficiencies in cows’ diets, affecting milk production and overall health. NutriCow’s purpose is to combat this by introducing a vitamin capsule that dissolves through irrigation systems, enriching the soil and indirectly benefiting dairy cows’ health and productivity.
NutriCow is a dissolvable tablet delivering essential vitamins and minerals—such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur—directly to the soil through farm irrigation systems. The nutrients flow through irrigation lines, reaching centre pivots and into the soil, where cows benefit from nutrient-rich grass, resulting in healthier cows, improved milk yield, and overall well-being
POSITIVE IMPACTS ON SOIL, ANIMAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
For Dairy Farmers: Improves soil health, reduces need for expensive fertilisers, cuts operational costs, healthier cows, higher milk production.
For Consumers: Results in higher-quality milk with potential health benefits
For the Environment: Promotes soil vitality, reduces erosion, minimises nutrient runoff, aligns with sustainability standards.
For Young Women in Agriculture: Engages young women with land-based challenges, enhancing leadership and problem-solving skills
Southland: Formula supports soil structure and improves drainage, addressing waterlogging.
West Coast: Replenishes essential minerals in nutrient-leached acidic soils.
Central Otago: Revitalises nutrient-poor soils, enhancing forage quality in arid conditions.
To start to trial and test our meaningful solution we needed to get out of our comfort zone and cold call some of the local organisations in our community to find ways to raise some money to purchase the materials we needed to make our Nutri-Cow products.
We were able to raise $300 by setting up a Fundraiser at Mitre10, supported by New World Wanaka with the produce, which supported us to purchase all of the goodies to go into our compound for soil nutrition.
This highlighted how communities come together to support us as the next generation of leaders.
Nutrient dense prototypes
Ania-Kanu, Zoe and Rebecca
The team behind the project
Our Project Mentors
SEBASTIAN CHAPMAN
FRUITMINDER
"From day one at the Imagination Challenge I've been blown away by the calibre of girls!
It's been incredible to see them go from strength to strength, leaning into responsibility within the team, and really getting a lot of real world learning by doing the doing.
Especially proud to see them muster the courage to fundraise a few hundred dollars to purchase, build and test their prototype. Excited to see the results!
I have absolutely no doubt they will all go on to do wonderful things with their life, and with a little bit of luck, maybe they end up part of the Food and Fibre sector."
THERINE VAN DER MEULEN OUNDER - GIRLS WHO GROW
e loved watching these students ect, grow, learn, debate, challenge ig deep into the problem they were working collectively this year to solve.”
When I saw photos of the students on the BBQ at Mitre10 raising money to purchase the vitamins and ingredients to make the pilot products, it brought tears to my eyes as they had thought outside the square to make things happen.
I am so incredibly proud of what they have collectively achieved and super excited to support the students at Mt Aspiring College to grow this project even further in the future.
This is just the beginning.”
Just like these ladies, we are essential environmental guardians on the land.
We would love your support
Initiating a pilot program of our Nutri-Cow solution on your farm
An initial test on a local dairy farm to monitor the effects on milk production, animal health, and soil quality. Supporting our team with funding for further research and development of the project
Connecting us with others in the community who can help bring Nutri-Cow to more regions and farms.
Connect
Under the Privacy Laws of Aotearoa New Zealand, we cannot legally share our contact details directly.
However, if you would like to connect with us or learn more about Nutri-Cow, please reach out to Catherine at Girls who Grow, and she will be happy to connect the dots.”
