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.
More than 640 dairy farmers and industry leaders gathered together at Rotorua's Energy Events Centre on Saturday night to celebrate the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards where Southland couple Scott and Stacey Mackereth were named Share Farmers of the Year.
Āta Regenerative is bringing international expertise to New Zealand to help farmers respond to growing soil and water challenges, as environmental monitoring identifies declining ecosystem function and reduced water-holding capacity across farms.
Yili's New Zealand businesses have reported record profits following a major organisational and strategic transformation.
Owners and lessees of certain Hino Trucks New Zealand diesel vehicles have just 10 days remaining to register or opt out of a proposed $10.9 million class action settlement.
Silver Fern Farms has successfully produced and delivered 90 tonnes of premium chilled New Zealand lamb and beef to the United Arab Emirates via airfreight.
For the first three months of 2026, new tractor deliveries saw an increase over the previous two months, resulting in year-to-date deliveries climbing to 649 units - around 5% ahead of the same period in 2025.

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