Nov 28, 2017 - Alliance Group is investing almost $800,000 in a new blood processing room at its Mataura plant in Southland to help meet the growing demand from the pharmaceutical industry.

The new facility at the plant will collect and process adult bovine blood into serum for blood products, which are used in the development of vaccines, cancer treatments, and drugs to treat neurodegenerative, haematological and endocrine disorders.

Demand from the pharmaceutical industry for New Zealand blood products has increased significantly due to the country’s disease-free status and world-leading agricultural systems.

David Surveyor, chief executive of Alliance Group, said blood products can create value for the co-operative’s shareholders.

“Our strategy is maximising revenue, diversifying our products and strengthening our market channels.

“This investment is another example of how we are developing opportunities to capture more market value for our shareholders.”

| An Alliance release  ||  November 28, 2017  |||