Tuesday, 07 August 2018 14:55

Nailing the big issues

Written by 
Andrew Morrison.  Andrew Morrison. 

Climate change and water quality are two issues the sheep and beef industry has yet to nail, says Beef + Lamb NZ chairman, Andrew Morrison. 

Speaking to Rural News last week at the Red Meat Sector conference in Napier, he said health and safety was a big issue 12-18 months ago but the industry has moved on from this and is working through these other issues.

“We really want to get the water quality and climate change issues sorted,” Morrison says. “We are working out what tools we can set up to help change the behaviour of people on these issues; not regulation so much as how we can structure policy that gets the necessary outcomes.” 

The conference heard a lot about the need for NZ to focus on the growing and changing demands of modern consumers, especially in wealthy markets. But Morrison believes these consumers’ demands are no different from what Kiwis expect from this country’s production systems.

“So we need to demonstrate to consumers – and NZers – that they have every reason to feel comfortable with our production systems and the proteins we produce. 

“We also must demonstrate that we are handling climate change, water quality and animal welfare to a high standard, which should alleviate any concerns they have.” 

Morrison says the conference in Napier was excellent and it was good to see unity between farmers and processors. He saw the conference helping to unify the industry.       

“Farming doesn’t end at the mailbox and excellence in processing doesn’t start at the mailbox, so we must work together to help create products that add value all the way through the system.” 

Andrew Morrison says BLNZ and MIA are working well together -- they recently held a joint strategy day -- and have spent a lot of time working with the new government.

“It’s exciting times; everyone talks about challenges and disruptions, but these are opportunities,” he says. 

More like this

Red meat's China push

The red meat sector is launching a new campaign to lure Chinese consumers to New Zealand grass-fed beef and lamb.

AR37 scientist scoops award

A scientist instrumental in the development and commercialisation of the novel endophyte AR37 scooped the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science and Research Award at Beef + Lamb NZ Awards last night.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter