25 A green take Vol 16 No 28, July 17, 2017
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Fonterra’s fresh view Hugh Stringleman
F
hugh.stringleman@nzx.com
ONTERRA chief executive Theo Spierings has put forward a vision for restoring 50 water catchments throughout New Zealand in which the cooperative and its dairy farmers operate. He told the annual meeting of the NZ Sustainable Business Council that Fonterra was prepared to lead, but it would achieve freshwater quality improvements only by working in partnerships. These would be along the lines of the Living Waters partnership between Fonterra and the Department of Conservation, now working in five of the most crucial catchments. Fonterra was holding discussions with DOC over how that effort could be extended to 50 catchments and over what time frame. It would need input from regional authorities and communities to prioritise the huge task, he said. “We are going to step up the pace on water. In NZ everyone is passionate about water, and so are we. “We want to show NZ that we share the same passion and ambition for swimmable rivers. We have to share responsibility and we have to be good stewards.” Spierings said the partnerships would be with communities, sheep and beef farmers, land owners and tourist operators. “Living Water has taught us a
huge amount and we are making a significant impact on the initial regions,” he said. “Now we want to amplify those results with the launch of a new initiative that will target 50 catchments. “Our immediate focus will be on working with communities, government and key partners to identify the catchments and develop a strategic framework for the programme. “This is a major undertaking and we need to get it right, but we are committed to making substantial progress,” Spierings said. He gave no time frame, title or the size of the financial commitment by Fonterra. He said the board of directors and Fonterra’s farmers knew that productivity in dairying needed to go up at the same time as its footprint needed to come down. When he first came to Fonterra in 2011 he looked at the Clean Streams Accord, introduced in 2002, to facilitate waterway riparian fencing and planting on farms. He now described it only as a “qualifier” for the industry in the social context, to show that it was serious about water quality. He then introduced Milk For Schools and Living Waters and appointed Richie McCaw as a Fonterra ambassador, moves that he now called “basic corporate responsibility 101”. Fonterra had therefore over a decade or more established its base for sustainability in all facets – environmental, employment, communities and for shareholders. Spierings said sustainability was a longer-term imperative and it had to become part of Fonterra’s DNA.
Starting young
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7 SFF returns on the up
Vol 16 No 27, July 10, 2017
Pest fence bro
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INSPIRED: Teagan and twin sister Keeley Maunsell want to become farmers just like their parents and Young Farmer of the Year contestant Lisa Kendall. HI, I’m Teagan and I want to tell you how awesome your frontpage photo of Lisa Kendall was (Farmers Weekly, July 10). My twin sister and I live on a dairy farm that Mum and Dad operate and own, and we If not, the value created by his V3 strategy and the disruptive technologies now being introduced would be eroded. “If you don’t do sustainability, you will lose value for the shareholders,” he said reflectively. Sustainability applied along the value chain, from farming to consumers, and it would be built by embracing new technologies over the next decade. At one end were agricultural
help because we want to be farmers too. I think it’s inspiring and I wish to be like her when I’m older. Teagan Maunsell, aged 9 Waiuku
and clean energy technologies, and genomics, moving on to food safety and traceability, plant robotics and blockchain technologies. At the consumer end was e-commerce and digital interconnectedness, where product choices were made partly on the reputation of the producer. “If this is all connected well it will create value for consumers
T
Annette Scott
annette.scott@ nzx.com
HE biosecurity system is creaking and won’t be sustainable in five years, Ministry for Primary Industries readiness and response director Geoff Gwyn says. Biosecurity had some big challenges that needed to be addressed collectively, he told farmers at the Federated Farmers arable industry conference. “To put it bluntly, our system is creaking. “Biosecurity is working but the model that is there is not sustainable for five years’ time. “Leave it to the Crown solely and it ain’t going to work. We have got to do it together,” Gwyn said. And while tourism great for the country was it created greater risk. “Passengers are 5% year on year. increasing We have to get smarter with how we do business.
space for frank and honest discussion to get better outcomes.
The Government had $80 million under investment in terms of biosecurity research and the future biosecurity model needed collaboration with effective leadership and governance, Gwyn said. Biosecurity readiness and response was a complex beast for the arable industry and all stakeholders must collaborate to find a way to engage with GIA, Foundation for Arable Research chief executive Nick Pyke told farmers.
To put it bluntly, our system is creaking. The model that is there is not sustainable for five years’ time.
I have a lot of confidence we will be better than where we are now.” An industry body was being formed to deal with the issue and sign a GIA Deed. It should be finalised next year. Pyke said while the industry had an informal chance to influence decision theory that meant making, in decisions could response be made for the industry rather than in collaboration with the industry.
Top talent com petes
“But we are complex – we have a heap of parties playing in our pond and all affected in some will be way all will be beneficiariesand in a response so we need working together.” to be all These stakeholders Federated Farmers, included millers, the grain flour and seed trade and feed manufacture “We have all rs. A GIA around Cost was the got to come to biosecurity big sticking the table with would work across point to get all knowledge, skill the parties over and the tools industry, he said. the the line. to manage – have the debate up While work had “But if we don’t front to do the started on get pre-battle work the arable GIA in GIA the decisions involved and control three years ago, will be the liabilities. several serious made for us and pest incursions the costs “For me it’s about had struck the imposed on us. industry, transparency putting GIA on “We need to get . the back burner the support “If we both don’t for the past 18 from all parties months. understand – consult and the problem “But we are back gain mandate we are just from those on track coming at it in and we have we represent loggerheads a plan to have and develop an and we get no a incorporated business case solution.” society with MPI,” Pyke The Government running by Septemberup and said. Industry this Agreement (GIA) year, if not sooner. The industry was the had IT’S ALL ON: Lisa “Once we get June 2018 deadline set a a GIA in place to have Year national finalKendall, 24, from Northland competes everything up in Feilding on Friday. in the Young Farmer and running. results. Check farmersweekly of the .co.nz for the full
Geoff Gwyn MPI
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and for our shareholders, divided about 80:20, I believe.” Therefore sustainability was central to Fonterra’s strategy across the areas of malnutrition, obesity and diet, water and the environment, climate and energy, and productivity. Concluding his address, Spierings said: “It is time for Fonterra to move from qualifying to differentiating. Let’s make it happen, together.”
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The GIA would deliver an interactive approach to prepare for and respond to biosecurity with the industry signatories and Government sharing the decision-mak ing and the costs.
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