fbpx
Print this page
Monday, 09 June 2014 11:33

Tertiary qualifications needed for rural roles

Written by 

MASSEY UNIVERSITY is well placed to provide the education needed to support the 50,000 new jobs in primary industries projected by 2025 in a new report, says Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Anderson.

 

Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy launched the 'Future Capability Needs For Primary Industries in New Zealand' report, revealing over half of the new jobs will require tertiary qualifications in order for New Zealand to double its exports by 2025. Primary industry jobs cover farming, fishing, forestry and mining.

The report predicts the biggest growth to be generated in support services jobs (researchers, rural consultants, veterinarians, agronomists and irrigation specialists) as primary production and processing becomes more sophisticated and greater value is added beyond the farm gate all the way to the consumer.

Professor Anderson says Massey is in a strong position to provide the educational requirements identified in the report. "This is an excellent and timely report and Massey is well placed to play a full part in delivering the education needed. The fact that the future capability requirement covers the entire agricultural value chain, from land-based to consumers, is especially welcome."

Massey University is a world leader in agriculture, recently ranked 19th in the world by the Quacquarelli Symonds world university subject rankings out of thousands of universities. Massey has an unparalleled breadth of expertise across the value chain offering programmes covering sustainable production, managing resources, plant and human health, innovation in food, and food safety and security, Professor Anderson says.

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey says Massey is committed to working alongside companies, industries, communities, local and central governments and international agencies to find solutions. "The university adds value to New Zealand's land-based industries and continues its contribution to the global agenda of food security and developing sustainable resource management strategies. Our flexibility, breadth of capability across the food value chain and our connectedness throughout the world helps us assemble the best expertise."

"Agriculture and food production are important globally, nationally and personally, and the forces influencing them seem greater than ever. They include population expansion, obesity, pandemics, global warming and food security and safety. We will have to work together to ensure we meet these challenges."

More like this

Ravensdown CEO takes out premier award

Ravensdown chief executive Greg Campbell has been named the 2019 Primary Industries Chief Executive of the Year at the inaugural Primary Industries Awards.

Guy keeps the faith

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says the agriculture sector remains in good heart despite Fonterra’s recently announced reduced forecast payout. 

TB on the decline, but outbreaks costly

The stigma of bovine TB remains huge in rural communities despite a decline in the number of infected herds, says Stu Hutchings, group director of OSPRI.

MBIE report backs primary sector careers

Lincoln University has welcomed the findings of a Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) report that shows favourable career prospects for those looking at the primary sector.

Featured

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…