Rabobank 2026 Outlook: Geopolitics shapes global agriculture
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
Rabobank's regional manager for Australia and New Zealand, Mark Wiessing, is joining the bank's NZ board.
He replaces Lara Yocarini, who is stepping down after more than three years on the Rabobank New Zealand board.
Subject to regulatory approval, Yocarini has taken up a new role as chief executive officer of Rabobank's global asset finance subsidiary De Lage Landen (DLL). She will also be a member of Rabobank's managing board. Wiessing had more than 30 years' international experience in the financial sector, including postings in South America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
He joined Rabobank in 2006 and was regional manager South America and chief executive officer for Brazil for eight years prior to his appointment as regional manager for Rabobank Australia and New Zealand in May 2023.
Before joining Rabobank, Wiessing held roles with other leading financial institutions, including Standard Bank of South Africa, Citibank and ING.
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.