Can he add?
The Hound notes that former Meat Industry Excellence (MIE) member Mark Patterson is now trying to use the same anti-Chinese sentiment the failed group used to oppose the takeover by Yili of Westland Milk.
Feds meat and fibre chair believes the Meat Industry Excellence Group (MIE) has no power to instigate any change.
Rick Powdrell told delegates to the meat and fibre annual meeting that MIE claims to have bank support for its latest proposal, but unless the banks drive the proposal nothing will eventuate.
Powdrell says the Government have made it very clear they will not instigate any meat industry restructure, but would be prepared to look at any proposal so to see if it could take an enabling role to assist.
“To date the company directors and management have individually, and in some cases collectively, done their due diligence on the various change options they may entertain.
One can argue that the results of those deliberations are their business and they are confident they are acting in the best interests of their company with the decisions they chose to make.”
Powdrell says the issue is now left with meat co-ops shareholders and suppliers to work out a solution
Massey University vice chancellor Pierre Venter says his institute is moving from a period of austerity into a growth phase, based on their new strategy.
With the red meat sector going through a boom time with high prices, the time is right for the industry to step up its investment into developing new food products.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Nick Beeby says there’s now much closer cooperation between meat processing companies than there was many years ago.
A new fruit quality research laboratory has been opened in Auckland by agritech company Hectre to develop pioneering hyperspectral technology.
Farmer lobby Groundswell believes that farmers are worried about the implications of a potential centre-left government.
With less than a week to go before voters choose the next government, Federated Farmers has a simple message to its members - get out and vote.

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