increase font size
The decisions made by farmer shareholders over the past decade have laid a strong, durable foundation for Fonterra's future growth and profitability, says the co-op's outgoing chairman Henry van der Heyden.
In his final chairman's address in Hamilton today, van der Heyden said when he took the job on, he wanted to make a difference and leave the cooperative in a better position at the end of his tenure.
Taking stock of the changes within the industry over the past 10 -15 years, van der Heyden reflected on the important decisions that had strengthened Fonterra's global position and returns to farmers.
"It's been one huge year after another and every one of them has made us stronger," he says.
"Together we've turned a collection of co-ops into the world's top dairy exporter.
"Creating Fonterra was a massive leap of faith on two levels. We put our faith in a single integrated model – and we put our faith in it succeeding in an entirely deregulated market. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that we pulled it off," he said.
"Fonterra came out of the blocks with $11.8 billion in assets. We have grown that by 28% to $15 billion. That's an outstanding performance.
"We have done what we set out to do – grow farmers' wealth ¬– and that's come through in the value of your land, your shares and your earnings on the farm."
Van der Heyden says global demand for dairy was the strongest it had ever been and is growing.
"We need to use all of our muscle to push ahead and stay ahead. But we will do it our way. History has shown we are not afraid to make the big calls and make big changes without trading what is really important."
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.
OPINION: The time has come for the Government to back the organic sector.
Plan ahead and be patient. That’s the message to farmers and horticulturalists from the chairman of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association, Kent Weir.
The industry is crying out for graduates with agricultural related degrees.
While GPS and guidance have become the norm and yield mapping and variable application continues to gain traction, most agricultural machinery manufacturers continue to expand their technology offerings, amalgamating the vast amounts of data being collected to streamline real-time and ongoing management decisions.
Supply chain problems, growing protectionism and a move to greater food security are some of the key challenges facing New Zealand exporters, according to our top trade negotiator, Vangelis Vitalis.
A spat within the ranks of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association has resulted in the suspension of outspoken North Canterbury farmer Barry Cuttance.
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.
