increase font size
Fonterra's outgoing chairman Henry van der Heyden has used his final speech as chairman to thank farmer shareholders for their support.
"You have all been a source of constant strength and motivation, especially during the harder yards," he told Fonterra's annual meeting in Hamilton today.
"But every one of those hard yards has been worth it. It was always my goal to hand over a strong, successful cooperative with a great future ahead of us. With your support and your commitment to make the bold calls when they matter most, I truly believe we've got there. Thank you. It has been a privilege."
Van der Heyden also thanked co-op directors, his wife Jocelyn, his family and the wider Fonterra family. He said right through his chairmanship, shareholders rewarded him with their trust.
"Your trust brings huge responsibilities with it. I've been very aware of that from the very first time I was elected as a director nearly 20 years ago. I have always seen it as shareholders giving me a very specific job, along with a clear message they will also hold me accountable.
"The job you gave me was always to do what's right for our cooperative. It has been to always look one step ahead for the opportunities to make us stronger, bigger, more profitable and truly global. And it has been to ensure we turned those opportunities into reality.
"I have had good role models for this job, starting with my parents. They were ambitious for our family, seeing opportunities for us to do better, even if it meant moving us half way across the world. They taught all of us kids to be ambitious for ourselves, because they knew that if you coast along, you will get left behind. Jocelyn and I have passed the same values on to our family – because like our parents, we want them to do better than we've done."
In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.
A four year trial has reaffirmed that mixing plantain into dairy pastures can help reduce nitrogen losses to freshwater while maintaining milk production and profitability, say researchers.
Fonterra has opened its upgraded Chengdu Application Centre, bringing New Zealand dairy expertise closer to customers in one of China's fastest-growing regions.
Tatua chair Stephen Allen says he leaves the co-op with a deep sense of gratitude for the people who have contributed to its success.
Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst and his family raised a glass of milk last week to toast the start of a new addition to their farming operation at Makihihi, south of Timaru.
Celebrating 50 years in the rural landscape of Central Canterbury and beyond, Ashburton-based Carrfields, has been the exemplar for all aspects of modern agriculture via its extensive range of services including supply, growing, agronomic advice and marketing.
For Taupiri dairy farmers Logan and Sian Dawson, their involvement in the NZ Dairy Industry Awards has been a key catalyst in the growth of their business - the experience helping shape how they approach the farm ownership pathway they are pursuing today.
West Otago dairy farmer Luke Kane has been awarded the 2026 Rabobank Dr John Morris Business Development Prize.
OPINION: As the general election approaches, political parties are churning out policies in the hope of attracting more votes.
An LIC bull, Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru, has won the 2026 Mahoe Trophy.
With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging farmers and growers to think ahead about nutrient planning and be prepared to work around challenging weather conditions.
OPINION: After hogging the media limelight for telling a NZ Chinese MP to "go back home", Winston Peters has decided…
OPINION: With fuel prices soaring, one would have expected most farmers to be reclaiming excise duty on petrol.
