“My view is that I want to develop technology that is useful and economically beneficial to the industry.”
That has seen a career as varied as researching, science management, working in the private sector and importing Awassi, East Friesian and Beltex sheep.
His scientific grounding has also thrust him into the debate on climate change. He describes himself as a climate realist.
For the last 20 years or so he has extensively researched the science behind climate change and concluded the case humans are causing climate change is unproven.
He believes natural climate variation is being overlooked while computer modelling excludes water vapor and clouds, scientifically recognised as responsible for up to 90% of greenhouse gas and overplays the contribution of nitrous oxide and methane.
Allison was born and raised on a farm at Hawea, Central Otago, and while farming was an option he chose to study agricultural science at Lincoln University, eventually earning a master’s degree under renowned scholar Professor Ian Coop.
He continued his studies at Sydney University when he received a Commonwealth Scholarship, studying reproductive physiology.
On returning to NZ in 1970 Allison worked for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry at the Invermay campus on topics such as the correct ram-to-ewe ratio.
“That really changed the industry. We went from a ratio of one (ram) to 40 (ewes) to one to 100.
“I was pretty unpopular with ram breeders.”
Allison also did some of the early research in to using the Booroola sheep breed over Merino and was involved in discovering the Inverdale fertility gene.
In 1978, aged 34, he was appointed director of Invermay, then a dilapidated North Taieri campus near Mosgiel.
It became his mission to rebuild it but as the New Zealand economy slowly sunk in to recession through the early 1980s that became increasingly unlikely.
Never one to be easily deterred, Allison recruited Otago, North Otago and Southland Federated Farmers to support him.
He would draft letters for the organisations to forward to politicians but discovered the letters were being sent unedited, complete with his name and MAF letterhead.
“I got into some trouble over that.”
But he had another plan.
Noted deer scientist Colin Mackintosh had culled a large stag with behavioural problems and had mounted its head.
Allison decided to give it to Agriculture Minister Duncan McIntyre, who put it on his office wall.
“He loved it and every time he looked at the deer head he thought of us and those supporting the rebuild of Invermay.”
The campus was rebuilt despite the country’s dire economic conditions.
David Lange’s Labour Government swept to power in 1984 cutting agricultural subsidies and support and earning the wrath of many rural communities.
Lange’s invitation to open the complex in 1987 became a flashpoint with thousands turning up to protest
Infuriated by a speech slating his Government by Otago Federated Farmers president Colin Richardson, Lange abandoned his prepared address, declared the building open and adjourned to lunch.
Allison recalled Lange met a delegation of farmers but his security staff were becoming concerned at the mounting unrest from the crowd outside the complex.
Despite the offer of a back-door exit the official party decided to leave through the main entrance, prompting the crowd to swarm the limousine, smashing protest signs on its bonnet and someone to rip off the ensign.
Allison resigned in 1978 and worked for Animal Enterprises for several years before pursuing his own projects.
They included establishing AbacusBio with Peter Fennessy and importing the Awassi sheep breed so NZ farmers could cash in on the high price paid for its meat.
Later he imported East Friesians for their fertility boost and milking ability and more recently has help establish the Beltex breed here.
His scientific background gave him the knowledge and expertise to traverse the tortuous process to get regulatory approval.
The potential rewards were high with East Friesians producing 230% lambing and with the milk production to rear them.
The East Friesian sheep arrived at Auckland International Airport on Christmas Day 1992 and spent the next three years on an Otago quarantine farm.
The 1996 inaugural auction of East Friesian sheep proved memorable with 10 two-tooth rams, 10 ram lambs and 40 halfbred rams selling for an average of $22,000.
Before the sale he sold 3000 embryos to Australia, 20 sheep for $25,000 each and later 10 ewes and eight rams to Scottish company PPL Therapeutics for $400,000.
A kidney disease necessitated a transplant 13 years ago which hasn’t slowed him down but his focus has shifted to climate change.
While questioning the science behind climate change based on extensive research and reading, Allison’s scepticism also stems from what he says has become a trillion-dollar global industry funding research and politics.
That extends to doubts the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium will find mitigation measures for agricultural emissions, saying its hasn’t after 15 years and millions of dollars of investment.
