25 years on - where are they now?
To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.
Fertiliser co-operative Ravensdown is trialling a new source of phosphate rock from Australia.
It is importing 5,000 tonnes of phosphate rock from the newly commissioned Ardmore Mine in Queensland, Australia.
Mike Whitty, Ravensdown general manager supply chain, says that it’s early days, but Ardmore Phosphate Rock has the potential to form a part of Ravensdown’s nutrient offering, helping to firm up local supply of high-quality Superphosphate for New Zealand farmers and growers.
“If the last few years have proven anything, it’s the value of having more options.
“We’re operating in an ongoing environment of instability when it comes to managing supply chain risks and increasing costs. It’s a culmination of familiar factors, including the conflict in Ukraine, political tensions in other parts of the world, and we’re seeing that COVID-19 has a very long tail.
“The lasting effects of the pandemic reach beyond simple shipping delays, we’re also seeing less commodity exports as countries like China intensify their focus on internal food security.
“As a Co-operative, it’s our job to identify and manage those risks on behalf of our farmer and grower shareholders. We’re committed to ensuring they have ongoing access to the essential nutrients needed to run their businesses.”
The trial shipment will undergo rigorous quality tests here in New Zealand.
The export operation at Ardmore Phosphate Rock Mine is owned by a 100% subsidiary of Centrex Ltd, Agriflex Pty Ltd.
Centrex chief executive Robert Mencel, says it is delighted to be working with Ravensdown to introduce our product to the New Zealand market.
“We have the utmost confidence in the quality of our phosphate rock and its ability to significantly reduce supply risk for our trans-Tasman allies.”
Ravensdown will continue to investigate and trial other sources of phosphate rock closer to New Zealand as part of our ongoing effort to manage quality, surety and cost risks for New Zealand farmers and growers.
About the trial shipment
- Ardmore Mine in Queensland Australia is a new source of high-grade phosphate rock.
- The phosphate rock will be tested and processed at Ravensdown’s Christchurch and Dunedin manufacturing sites.
- Superphosphate contains plant-available phosphorus, sulphur and calcium, which are all essential nutrients for life. It’s an ideal option, along with agricultural lime for managing the health and productivity of New Zealand’s pasture-based farming systems.
The primary sector is welcoming the appointment of Dr John Roche as the Prime Minister's new chief science advisor.
Groundswell NZ is ramping up its ‘Quit Paris’ campaign.
A further ten commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
This morning, NZ Young Farmers (NZYF) has announced that Cheyne Gillooly will take over as its chief executive in June.
The message for the 2025 World Bee Day is a call to action for sustainable practices that support bees, improve food security, and protect biosecurity in the face of mounting climate pressures.
Consumers around the world are willing to pay more for products containing dairy and this is driving demand for butter and cream, says Fonterra.
OPINION: Last week's announcement of Prime Minister’s new Science and Technology Advisory Council hasn’t gone down too well in the…
OPINION: At its recent annual general meeting, Federated Farmers’ Auckland province called for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris…