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By Pippa McCarthy. McCarthy is a Bachelor of Agricultural Science student at Lincoln University
Agriculture in New Zealand is currently facing increasing scrutiny and anti-farming sentiment, driving the need for a more unified and proactive voice in the sector.
In her keynote address to the Primary Industries Summit in Christchurch this week, former agriculture journalist and Nuffield scholar Claire Taylor highlighted that public confidence in agriculture has been 鈥渢hrough the floor鈥.
But she argued that the core issue 鈥渋s not external scrutiny, but our defensive and fragmented response to it鈥.
Taylor challenged the industry to adopt a simple shift: stop educating and begin engaging the public, to create a 鈥渢wo-way street of communication鈥.
Young farmers are key to stepping up and initiating this change.
Tim Dangen and Emma Poole, both former Young Farmer of the Year winners and who also addressed the summit, are examples of next-generation farmers essential for change. Dangen and Poole said their success comes from engaging deeply with their communities, talking to as many people as possible, and 鈥渉arvesting information from local experts鈥.
Dangen said unlocking the sector鈥檚 full potential essentially comes down to the ability to attract and retain quality young talent.
鈥淥f the 400,000 people who are currently studying in tertiary studies, only 2% of them are studying anything to do with agriculture.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got 25,000 people coming out of universities every year with arts degrees. There鈥檚 a massive gap, and it鈥檚 something that we can really try and capitalise on,鈥 he said.
The goal, according to both Dangen and Poole, is to unify farming voices and dismantle divisions within the sector. By embracing genuine engagement, valuing others鈥 experiences and investing in young talent, young farmers will be in a position to lead the New Zealand agriculture sector into a more connected and positively perceived future.
鈥淎fter my time as FMG Young Farmer of the Year, I worked with MPI to create a food and fibre ambassador role, visiting Auckland Schools to promote primary sector opportunities. I spoke to about 3000 students and quickly saw a big disconnect between what we know and what young people are hearing,鈥 Dangen said.
鈥淎t a West Auckland College, 20 out of 30 Year 13 science students said they鈥檇 take an agriculture class if offered. After speaking to Year 10s, 77 were keen. We took that to the senior management of the school, found a teacher, and secured $5000 over three years from local community groups. Now they鈥檝e got a well-funded agriculture programme that鈥檚 attracting top students 鈥 little programmes like this can have an enormous effect on our industry in the future.鈥
He said that while the retention side is difficult, we have to have profitable businesses that can allow for safe working environments, good rosters and good wages.
Poole also stressed the importance of celebrating success and challenging the 鈥渢all poppy syndrome鈥 prevalent in New Zealand, which 鈥渉olds the sector back and discourages advocates鈥.