PRESIDENT’S WORD
Climate change is real – so what are we going to do about it? I had the opportunity in early March to spend the day in Hawke’s Bay with the Prime Minister and some of her senior Ministers, along with other Food and Fibre industry leaders. We visited local farmers and growers, and discussed with them the issues and opportunities they are facing.
By Barry O’Neil President : HortNZ
While there was a clear focus on our future seasonal labour needs, we also spent time on climate change and freshwater reforms. Unfortunately, I came away feeling we have a long way to go if we are to collectively, as the food and fibre sector, agree to address the significant industry, national and global issues facing us. I am however encouraged that as a nation and as an industry, we are at least identifying these issues as priorities. But I felt at times, the wider primary sector is still looking for excuses not to make changes to how we farm or grow, blaming incomplete science, lack of government support or the need for longer transition times. This to me is disingenuous: to be saying yes, we agree with the need and yes, we absolutely must change, but don’t make us do it now as we’re just not ready yet! And while I struggle, along with most others, with the complexity of these issues and what the changes we must make will mean to production and the economics of growing, my bigger concern is that if we continue to procrastinate, it will be too late for us to make the changes that will make the needed difference.
...my bigger concern is that if we continue to procrastinate, it will be too late for us to make the changes that will make the needed difference.
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The ORCHARDIST : APRIL 2021
No one wants to see fellow growers being regularly devastated by hail, losing crops to rain and flood events, and crops too often suffering with drought. And we especially don’t want to see warmer climates so that our production systems and growing regions are no longer suitable for the crops they currently grow. Our climate is changing from human activity, and our excessive and at times inappropriate use of the earth’s limited resources. We need to change how we are doing things now if we are going to mitigate the impacts. This is much more than just growers – and yes, also much more than just New Zealand – but to me that is no excuse for continuing to delay doing what is needed and what is right. Internationally we are falling behind what leading countries are doing, so we don’t have a unique ‘NZ Inc story’ to tell our consumers now. Consumers always have a choice, and while our produce has historically commanded a premium, this is now being seriously challenged by others who are doing more and moving faster to address climate change and the environmental issues facing our communities and countries. Millennials and Gen Zs have been the leading generations marching in the street demanding change. They will also soon become the largest consumer group. What therefore do we think will influence their purchase decisions? From a purely economic perspective, we need to keep ahead of the competition or we run the risk of becoming another Nokia or Blockbuster.
