Feds president Andrew Hoggard elected to International Dairy Federation board

Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard. Photo / Supplied

As a Manawatu dairy farmer, Andrew Hoggard is no stranger to getting up before dawn - but a new role will see him out of bed even earlier.

The president of Federated Farmers has been elected to the board of the International Dairy Federation (IDF), which means a couple of midnight online northern hemisphere meetings a month, to add to his 4:30am milking wake up call.

The election took place at the IDF General Assembly in the early hours of Tuesday morning (NZ time), with members from more than 40 dairy producing countries - representing over 75 per cent of global milk production.

Hoggard was elected as the sole farmer representative on the governing board.

Hoggard was not new to the set-up, as he had been on animal health, farm management and environment standing committees. He had also just finished his second two-year stint on the IDF's Scientific Programme Co-ordination Committee.

Hoggard said he'd push the same principle he is used to arguing on behalf of New Zealand across the sectors - that policies, regulations and proposals need to pass the SPA test - is it Sensible; it is Practical, is it Affordable?

An emerging opportunity for the IDF was the United Nations food systems dialogue Hoggard said.

Listen to Jamie Mackay interview Andrew Hoggard on The Country below:

"It's a focus of NGOs and other bodies and individuals all around the world, not just in New Zealand, to try and describe what a sustainable food system looks like."

The dialogue was an opportunity to move beyond the "sometimes emotive views gaining traction on how we should farm, and what we should produce" Hoggard said.

Hoggard wanted to ensure the conversation was "grounded in science, is practical, and rational in terms of the global challenge to ensure nutritionally adequate diets" while also maintaining sufficient food production for future generations.

"My aim is to make sure the farmer voice and knowledge base is heard loud and clear among the other voices."

About the International Dairy Federation

The IDF is the only organisation which represents the entire dairy value chain at global level - from farm gate to retailer fridge. It supports the development of robust, science and evidence-based international standards for dairy products.

The IDF also used its unique network of experts and research to extend global sector knowledge on topics such as sustainability and nutrition - and shared this knowledge with member nations - and developing nations in particular.