NZ Food Brands Back New Zealand Grown Grains Campaign
Some of New Zealand’s best-loved food brands have been quick to sign up for a new campaign which reinforces their home-grown status.
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) has appointed Dr Scott Champion as its new chief executive.
FAR board chair, Steven Bierema, says Champion’s skills are well matched to the developing needs of New Zealand’s arable industry and its growers.
“Scott has been involved with the New Zealand and Australian food and fibre industries for 25 years, holding leadership and governance roles in research, tertiary education, marketing and industry good and has strong networks across agribusiness, government and other sectors,” he says.
Champion is a founding partner of consulting company Primary Purpose, the programme director of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme and a former chief executive of Beef + Lamb New Zealand and of the New Zealand Meat Board.
This experience will be invaluable to FAR and levy payers, says Bierema.
Champion says he is looking forward to supporting arable farmers as they work through the numerous challenges and opportunities facing their industry.
“Growers are dealing with a lot; understanding everything from how to reduce environmental impacts to meeting customer and consumer needs, and of course, remaining profitable. I’ve been involved in developing strategies and programmes to address some of these issues in both arable and other food and fibre industries and look forward to working with and supporting growers and the broader arable industry.”
Champion will take over from current FAR chief executive, Dr Alison Stewart on 1 July.
A safety push across New Zealand has revealed significant gaps in hazardous substances management, farm vehicles, tractors, quad bikes and side-by-sides.
New Zealand farmers have earned a global edge by consistently yet cautiously taking advantage of emerging agri-technology.
New season data from LIC shows a strong reproductive performance for the 2025-26 season, with a lift in key metrics compared to last season.
Xero, the global small business platform, today released its first ever small business productivity measurement backed by data from Xero Small Business Insights (XSBI).
Money invested to protect native bush, wetlands and other special habitats on farms is paying huge dividends.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.

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