Ideas that grow

Podcast

The ‘Ideas that Grow’ podcast is brought to you by Rural Leaders.

The Food and Fibre Sector is full of motivated, grounded producers and agribusiness professionals. People trying to do the right thing by their families, rural communities, rural sector industries and our country.

Ideas that Grow gives voice to these strategic, transformational leaders – able to think critically and lead with the insight and foresight needed to meet both New Zealand’s and the world’s food challenges.

These podcasts are where Food and Fibre leaders, often from our Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarship, Kellogg Rural Leadership, and Value Chain Innovation programmes, come together to help plant innovative, transformational, and entrepreneurial ideas that grow.

All guest sector leaders are arranged by Rural Leaders. Ideas That Grow is presented in association with our supporting partner Farmer’s Weekly.

Listen to Ideas that Grow on your favourite podcast player:

Featured Podcast Episode

Simon Saunders - From Commodity to “Uber Premium” in 20 Years: The Lumina Lamb Story.

In this Ideas that Grow episode, Simon Saunders, 2025 Value Chain Innovation Programme participant, talks to Bryan Gibson, Managing Editor at Farmers Weekly.

How does a group of frustrated farmers turn their lamb into an “uber premium” brand on menus across Asia and the Middle East?

Simon, who runs the Stag Valley farm in Southland and is one of the original farmers behind Headwaters genetics, shares the story of Lumina Lamb since 2007, from the importance of consistency and the Alliance partnership to why farmers need to think about where they sit in the value chain.

Listen to the podcast and read the transcript here.

If you’d like to profile your research or any innovative work in your business, industry or community, please get in touch with Matt Hampton at matthampton@ruralleaders.co.nz