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Professor of Physiology at Maastricht University and creator of the first stem cell hamburger, Mark Post.
About 200 agribusiness leaders attended a thought-provoking TEDx-styled event which promised to challenge traditional thinking about the future of farming in New Zealand.
The 'Beyond the Line of Sight: Farming & the Future of Food' in Auckland was presented by dairy and livestock solutions company Tru-Test Group in partnership with Callaghan Innovation and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Speakers focussed on current international trends and emerging technologies which are set to have potentially destabilising implications for our primary and food systems.
Tru-Test Group chief executive Greg Muir says it has a vested interest in seeing the greater agribusiness sector prosper.
"We were founded 50 years ago on industry-changing innovation and preparing for change is critical to business success.
"We must acknowledge the fast-changing rules of doing business and anticipate dynamic shifts in our traditional value chains."
Muir hopes the event has challenged and opened minds to consider and prepare for a fundamentally different future.
New technologies such as ag-robotics, IoT sensing solutions, synthetic milk and cultured beef will present both real opportunities and potential threats to New Zealand's primary industry. Callaghan Innovation's national technology network manager for sensing technologies Andrew Dawson says we are well placed to capitalise on our size, distance and unique point of view.
"Disruptive change is being driven from outside traditional sectors, so staying alert to the drivers of change and looking outward will be vital. In our favour, New Zealanders have a naturally-developed sense of observation, and big is no longer better so smaller countries and companies can be more agile and responsive to dynamic change."
New Zealand’s wine industry is in a unique position, thanks to 30 years of SWNZ, says New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Global Sustainability Lead Florence Van Dyke. “Because you’ve done your homework; you are one of the few industries that actually have the stats.”
New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) welcomes Catherine Wansink on a part time secondment as Australia Market Consultant.
New Zealand Winegrowers is embarking on a timely brand refresh, to discover the 'essence' of the New Zealand Wine brand and create a powerful platform for members telling their own brand stories.
Gaining exposure to relevant innovation, "without being swamped in the sheer volume of options", is one of the main challenges for winegrowers considering agrictech.
A New Zealand research project in the United States has provided rich information for companies wanting to know more about that key market.
Five years on, Levin farmer George Thompson reflects on his life-changing accident and says it's great to see more support for farmers to make the industry safer.
Landowners with farms bordering the Hoteo River, north of Auckland, are hopeful their pressure will influence the outcome of two applications by local iwi relating to ownership of the riverbed.
A Massey University student has inched closer to national victory after being crowned Taranaki-Manawatu's top young farmer, despite being the youngest competitor in the field.
Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture, has appointed Brett Barnham as its new chief executive.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri says its kiwifruit has now reached more than 100 million households globally.
Scales Corporation managing director Andy Borland says the company has delivered an outstanding result.
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