Our food producers are in strong position as we look ahead to 2020. High meat and dairy prices, growth in deer and horticulture, especially kiwifruit, and success in arable are all driving the Food and Fibre sector forward. Looking ahead to the future of food and creating transition from volume to value, how do we meet the needs of consumers who are seeking safe, sustainable food products that also meet the highest standard of animal welfare practices? How might we better tell the NZ story together, creating the culture and brand of our food?
This special edition of our Innovation Series will provide an overview of what we should all be considering in 2020, as well as a sneak preview of what is to come in our Innovation Series this year. Co-products and mixed farming systems are just some of the opportunities for food producers, but this requires innovative thinking, especially when consumers are demanding hyper transparency of where their food comes from. Consumers are thinking of their health more than ever before - how can we work together to better provide products that meet those needs?
Taking advantage of these opportunities requires collaboration and leadership. In this first session of the year, we will explore these opportunities and hear from leaders in the Food and Fibre sector who are trailblazing the way forward. What does it take to lead? What does it take to be an early adopter? How might we collaborate better? How can we work together to maintain our social license to operate?
Timings:
8.45am : Breakfast & networking
9.00am : Welcome & introduction
9.10am : Keynote address 1 - ANZ Agri Outlook Susan Kilsby, ANZ
Providing an overview of the agri-food industry from the economic perspective, including macro pressures, global trends and emerging technology. What should food producers and growers be thinking about as they look ahead for the year? What should be the priority? Are there any action steps they should be taking? How does social license impact the NZ food story?
9.30am : Keynote address 2 - Alison Stewart, FAR
Sharing some of the work that FAR is doing to collaborate across the industry and lead the change in future farming systems. How can our food producers and growers get involved in programmes and projects? What opportunities exist? What time of mindset is needed? What action steps can be taken immediately? How can better land utilisation impact social license to operate?
9.50am : Keynote address 3 - Kate Acland, Mt Somers Station
Providing insight to what drives Mt Somers Station to be innovative, yet simple in their processes, managing internal and external relationships to drive efficiency and incorporating new ideas and practices into their team to ensure quick adoption. Why do farming practices matter and how they connect their story to consumers to protect their social license to operate.
10.10am : Panel discussion/Interactive Q&A session with Audience
10.30am : Speaking finishes, networking
11.00am : Event finishes
About the Speakers
Susan Kilsby, Agriculture Economist, ANZ
Susan rejoined ANZ Bank in the Agriculture Economist role in October 2018, having previously been employed by ANZ in a graduate role earlier in her career.
Susan was previously at NZX where she headed up a team of agriculture analysts providing market intelligence to many leading global dairy businesses by way of regular reports, news and online tools. While at NZX she was involved with launching the dairy derivatives market, including the milk price future and options products. Susan worked alongside Massey University to develop a milk price calculator and a milk production predictor tool. Susan has authored several reports on New Zealand and China’s dairy industry and has presented regularly at local and international conferences.
Susan studied Agricultural Economics at Massey University. She was raised on a dairy farm in Toko but now lives with her partner and two children
on a small sheep and beef farm in Martinborough.
Dr Alison Stewart, CEO FAR
Hailing from Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow in Scotland, Dr Stewart has specialist knowledge in the area of plant protection, a wealth of experience in managing research groups and programmes in New Zealand universities and Crown Research Institutes.
She was the founding director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University from 2003 until 2011. During that time she gained an AgResearch Technology Transfer Award (2002), MAFBNZ Biosecurity Award for Excellence (2008) and was awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of services to biology (2009). She is a Fellow of the NZ Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Science and a Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society.
In her commercial work in NZ and the US, she developed and commercialised several biologically based pest and disease management technologies for the agriculture, horticulture and nursery sectors, and sat on the boards of Plant & Food Research in New Zealand and The Waite Research Institute at the University of Adelaide.
Kate Acland, Mt Somers Station
Kate holds a Bachelor’s degree in Viticulture and Oenology and a Master’s Degree in Applied Science majoring in Farm Management Consultancy from Lincoln University.
Along with her husband David, Kate runs a highly diversified group of businesses employing 25 staff. Kate and David Acland, both come from 5 generations of farmers and growers with a proud history of producing quality food. Today they farm sheep, cattle, deer, dairy, bees and wine and a new generation has begun with their 3 young children involved in all of their enterprises.
In addition to governance experience in her own businesses, Kate currently hold several outside governance roles; including Rural Co, North Canterbury Future Farms and WRONZ (Wool Research Organisation NZ).
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