Farmer-led project Extension 350 wins award

Extension 350 project leader Luke Beehre (left) was presented with the EDNZ Best Practice in Sustainable Development Award by Parliamentary Under-secretary for Regional Development Fletcher Tabuteau (centre). At right is Northland Inc CEO Dr David Wilson, who is chairman of Economic Development NZ. Photo / Supplied

Extension 350, a farmer-led, farmer-focused project that aims to lift profitability, environmental sustainability and wellbeing on Northland farms, won a top honour at the 2018 Economic Development NZ Awards.

It received the Best Practice in Sustainable Development Award at the 2018 Economic Development NZ (EDNZ) annual conference gala dinner in the Bay of Islands celebrating best practice in economic development activity throughout New Zealand.

Extension 350 operates under the umbrella of the Northland Economic Development Agency, Northland Inc, which won the Best Practice in Inward Investment Award for its work with the 15,000km super fibre-optic Hawaiki Cable project connecting New Zealand with Australia, mainland United States, Hawaii and the Pacific.

Extension 350 project leader Luke Beehre said the Sustainability Development Award acknowledges the farmers involved in the project, "and in particular the target farmers who have opened their farm businesses up for scrutiny".

The project started in November 2016, and over five years will involve 350 farmers throughout Northland. The concept has mentor farmers and farm consultants working with target farmers to improve their farm businesses. The target farmers then share what they have learned with associate farmers.

"We're seeing great results in the three key areas of profitability, environmental sustainability and wellbeing on the individual farms and we are now starting to see that this project has the potential to transform Northland's agricultural sector," Beehre said.

EDNZ chief executive Susan Houston said Economic Development NZ's awards committee considered the Extension 350 project to be a best practice example of sustainable development.

"It is a smart and savvy use of land that will have beneficial economic and environmental ramifications for present and future Northlanders," she said.

"Extension 350 could just as easily have been considered for the Innovation Award since it is breaking new ground, not just for Northland but also for New Zealand."

Extension 350 is supported by Northland Inc and funded by DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, the Northland Regional Council and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

It is a project within the Northland Tai Tokerau Economic Action Plan which brings together more than 60 projects which are driving the transformation of Northland's economy.