The GFP experience highlighted to me the diversity in opportunities and challenges that exist in agriculture around the world. Ultimately most agricultural markets were trying to do two things – at a macro level, feed 9 billion mouths by 2050 while at a micro level, add value to produce to generate greater profitability. And achieve both while minimising environmental impact.
Penny Clark-Hall is passionate about helping rural communities. Ms Clark-Hall is the founder of New Zealand’s first social licence consultancy, helping farmers and agri-businesses earn and maintain their social licence to operate. She is excited about speaking at the Women’s Enviro Evening in Clinton later this month, saying meaningful change had to come from grassroots,
It was a warm, sunny afternoon in Takaka in Golden Bay. As daylight beamed through a window only to hit the back of a curtain, Kellogger, Wayne Langford found himself bedridden in a cool, dark room. He had been flat on his back every afternoon for more than a week to escape his constant mental
Enthusiasm for a digital future key asset for Dairy Women’s trustee role 1 July 2019 Enthusiasm for a digital future is a key asset Auckland based tech enthusiast Sophie Stanley feels she can bring to the Dairy Women’s Network as the newest member of its trust board. “I’ve worked with the Dairy Women’s Network in the
New Zealand farmers are “more environmentally engaged” than their European counterparts, a North Canterbury dairy farmer says. Cam Henderson, who farms in Oxford, has just returned from eight weeks visiting the US, Mexico, Brazil and the Netherlands as part of an agricultural scholarship programme. Expecting the Netherlands to be ahead of New Zealand on environmental protection, he found they were
The government has introduced a Research and Development (“R&D”) Tax Incentive, to support and further promote R&D in NZ businesses. The R&D Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament and we expect legislation to be enacted in May/June this year, allowing businesses to access, and make the most of the incentive from the start
It is with great sadness that I share the news that 2000 Nuffield Scholar and former Chairman of Fonterra, John Wilson passed away aged only 54yrs. He is survived by his wife Belinda and four daughters, Sophie, Victoria and twins Tessa and Libby. In July last year, John made the difficult decision to step down
Geoff Mathis a Nuffield Scholar has focused his energies into an amazing project in Tanzania – East Africa. With the support of many individuals (including Nuffielders) MFAT, Rotary NZ World Community Service, The Rotary Foundation and numerous other people, this NZD1.1m project is changing lives. The goal: Moving farmers and the community off the poverty
We heard repeatedly about the growing world population and the related demand for food driving the need for bigger, better yields of commodity products (sound familiar?!). America has always been known of the land where bigger is better. We saw that on show in Ames, Iowa for the 2019 Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference. The week
A look into the Land Grant University system and their education, research and extension work reminded me of the importance of strong institutions in our agriculture sector. Travelling to the American mid-west in the middle of winter was a shock to the system. Stepping out after 6 weeks of 25-30 degrees into -5 was only
I would like to acknowledge the investment that the New Zealand Scholars received prior to leaving for the Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC). While the preparation covered a range of skills, personality assesments, and sessions with industry leaders and government officials, I would like to highlight two skills that have helped us hit the ground running
If you asked any of the five scholars from this year they will all say the same I’m sure, our preparation was the key to our success not only in our pre CSC travel together but also at the CSC in Des Moines. We must thank the board for three key pieces of personal training
Blake Marshall from Ngai Tahu Farming is completing his Kellogg Rural Leadership project on “The importance of developing positive stress management and mindset skills in young dairy farmers”. He is wanting to survey dairy farm workers. If you are a dairy farm owner or employer and want to be involved in this survey or receive
We are hosting three Q&A conference calls for anyone who is interested in completing a Kellogg Course. The calls are hosted by our General Manager Anne Hindson. We encourage you to attend even if you have no questions, this will help you gain a deeper understanding of what the programme is about. Click here for
My interest in biosecurity started with the harsh lessons of the PSA incursion into kiwifruit in New Zealand. My small orchard was only 500m away from ground zero and like all growers, I got a crash course in the importance of basic biosecurity and hygiene practices. I started my Nuffield travels around the world hoping to look at examples of on farm biosecurity
Kate Scott 2018 Nuffield Scholar – Global Insights. I have come to the view so far during my travels that globally New Zealand Agriculture is punching well above its weight in terms of both its understanding of the impacts of its activities on the environment, but also in its recognition of the need to change. This is
Right now, farmers throughout New Zealand are confronted by a need to implement change to improve multiple environmental outcomes while still returning a profit. Supporting them on this journey industry groups, regional councils and central government have developed the Good Farming Practice Action Plan for Water Quality, which acknowledges a range of Industry Agreed Good Management Practices. This has been useful in providing clarity and collaborative industry support for farmers around agreed standards. But I’ve found myself asking the question, “what
The impact on our primary production systems of our transition to a low carbon economy Leader Economic projections for our low emissions economy miss a fundamental physical challenge in our transition. Biophysical analysis and our primary food systems can address this. Here’s how. Background The transition from energy dense fossil fuels to far less dense renewable
My journey started with a quest to explore what a move to focus more on nutrition would mean for our Primary Industries. If we diversified and invested into ingredients, extractable compounds and functional claims from our existing production could we increase value for export and develop new market opportunities? In Canada I had an epiphany. There I met companies
The 2019 Nuffield scholars were announced on Tuesday 6th November at parliament by Hon Damien O’Connor Minister of Agriculture and Minister for Biosecurity, Food Safety, and Rural Communities. They are: Ben Hancock Ben was raised on his family’s Wairarapa hill country sheep and beef cattle farm. He is now based in Wellington working for Beef
I was interested by the fact that many felt that New Zealand was perhaps the country feeling some of the most significant scrutiny, with a few people commenting on the fact that New Zealand’s farmers are now considered to be on the table of social standing at about the same level as the politicians. By Kate
The last 6 weeks just seems like a blur of Airports, planes, busses, hotel rooms and most importantly an incredibly diverse sometimes extraordinary string of farms and the people for whom that is their passion and livelihood. The key word in that is passion, everywhere we went to we met farmers who loved what they
This report, released today, covers the banking side of NZ Dairy Farming and makes for an interesting read. Recent Kellogg graduate Zach Mounsey alongside others, has helped analyse the findings, create and publish the report…. Read More
