Editorial: Agri's mojo is back
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
Prepared by the University of Waikato, the report says Fieldays has evolved into a major player in assuring New Zealand’s economic future, and is a platform unrivalled for showcasing New Zealand agricultural expertise and world leadership.
Fieldays’ mission is to advance agriculture and the growing success of the 46-year-old event is something Calder is incredibly proud of.
“Fieldays measure of success is more than just numbers of visitors through the gate, or the number of sites we sell,” says Calder.
“Having quantifiable data that demonstrates how the event creates value for our customers exhibiting, for the region, and New Zealand as a nation is how we truly measure our success.
“In addition to the sales made by our customers exhibiting at Fieldays, the flow on effects to the region through accommodation, hospitality, transport and employment are significant.”
Calder says the organisation is focused on growing Fieldays and leveraging New Zealand’s position as a world leader in agribusiness to make the event a ‘go-to’ agribusiness event on the global stage.
He also highlights the importance of Fieldays international strategy and how it complements the organisation’s strategic direction.
“The growth we are seeing in international visitors, delegations and companies wanting to exhibit at Fieldays reinforces our growing status as a global agribusiness event.
“International visitors create new opportunities for our customers and through the international relationships and networks we are building we can now start to create reciprocal opportunities for our export customers to exhibit and participate in agri events offshore.”
But Fieldays’ international focus is secondary; it has created new exhibition space to allow new exhibitors and expansion by existing customers this year. Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy says he’s a regular visitor to Fieldays and highlights its importance in the New Zealand agriculture landscape.
“I’ve been coming [to Fieldays] for a number of years and I’m always blown away by the technology and innovation on display. Fieldays also plays a big part in helping connect rural and urban Kiwis, showing off what’s best about the primary industries,” he says.
“The primary industries make up around 73% of our merchandise exports, helping pay for things like schools, hospitals and roads.”
