SOWING THE SEEDS OF CHANGE

Seeds of opportunity will be planted when Girls who Grow, an education programme empowering the next generation of female led agriculture and farming, launches into colleges across Wellington, Wairarapa, Kapiti Coast and Horowhenua in terms 3 and 4 of this year, thanks to early-stage funding from WellingtonNZ.

The mission of Girls who Grow is to empower and cultivate the next generation of educated female change makers, leaders, and environmental guardians, fostering a climate-positive approach to agriculture and farming. By reconnecting young women back to Aotearoa’s land through food and fashion, the programme aims to educate and empower future leaders while shifting perceptions around agribusiness and women’s roles within the industry.

Co-founded by changemakers Catherine van der Meulen and Aimee Blake, Girls who Grow aims to address concerning statistics that only 6% of school leavers enter Aotearoa’s primary industries, with numbers declining since 2009.

Girls who Grow long-term goals include seeing 50,000 farms in Aotearoa become climate-positive, developing Girls who Grow-owned farms as hubs for hands on and experience led education for young wāhine, and encouraging more female school leavers to choose primary industries as a career.

‘We are incredibly grateful for the support from WellingtonNZ, which will drive the growth of Girls who Grow across the region,”’says van der Meulen.

‘This funding allows us to advance our mission of empowering young women in agriculture and farming, driving innovation, and encouraging positive change within the industry. Our vision extends beyond Wellington, with every town and region earmarked over the next 3 years to be actively participating in Girls who Grow through engaging educational experiences throughout Aotearoa. However, to achieve this goal, we rely on the meaningful contributions of corporate, philanthropic, and other sources to continue our impactful work.’ girlswhogrow.co.nz

According to the Ministry of Primary Industries, Aotearoa needs 25,000 new skilled primary industry workers by 2025 to meet increasing demand, yet currently, only 35% of the workforce includes women.

Van der Meulen says the next generation play a critical role in sustaining our economy with 85% of our exports being food and fibre.

The Girls who Grow first pilot programme was launched in Otago last year. Imagination centred workshops for 15 to 17-year-old wāhine college students sparked their imagination to get curious about a different future, one that doesn’t live with high climate anxiety knowing that they can be part of the solution.

An imagination challenge saw students work together and with mentors to design meaningful drought solutions with the final projects presented to judges from Otago Polytech, MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Fund, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Pamu and Otago Polytech.

On-farm experiences explored diverse farming, sustainable fibres for fashion and construction, land use, locally sourced produce and electrification of farming practices at Hemp Central, Moreish Kitchen, and Forest Lodge Orchard.