Graham Smith: Conference highlights way forward

Graham Smith

The recent strategic refresh reinforced the core purpose of Federated Farmers is to help and support our members to build better businesses in a competitive world.

The articulation of our role was timely and important as Federated Farmers members operate within a dynamic, innovative primary sector, the backbone of the New Zealand economy.

Our national conference last month highlighted some of the things we need to focus on to build an increasingly resilient primary industry, particularly relevant given the market volatility being experienced at present in some sectors.

This included a look at the importance of food safety, how we manage water effectively, our ability to withstand economic shocks, and what role Maori will play in a future workforce.

One of Federated Farmers strategic themes is to take a stronger pan sector approach to major primary sector challenges and opportunities.

As part of this initiative, we recently launched a National Water Team to guide our thinking on major water issues facing the country; including water quality, storage and nutrient issues.

We have also formed a national Science Team to help nurture the development of Federated Farmers policies through sound, scientific evidence.

The team will also comment on the capability of New Zealand's science system, and work to ensure our primary sector continues to have access to a world-class technology pipeline, underpinned by strong research and development (R&D).

In this edition of The National Farming Review we focus on what it takes to maintain and sustain a future primary sector. Stephen Jacobi discusses future trade potential on page 7, and we also look at family succession on page 12 and the importance of soil science.

I would like to pay tribute to our National President Dr William Rolleston who was recently elected Vice President of the World Farmers Organisation (WFO).

This is an outstanding achievement for William and Federated Farmers and has wider significance for our country and global agriculture.

Having Dr Rolleston in such a position confers on New Zealand a stronger influential voice and reinforces our reputation as a premier agricultural nation on the world stage.