Suitors line up
OPINION: As Fonterra's divestment of its Oceania and global consumer businesses progresses, clear contenders are emerging.
Agribusiness expert Keith Woodford says within the next five years China could be accepting only A2 milk products.
Speaking at Federated Farmers Dairy conference in Wellington this morning, Woodford, a retired agribusiness professr, says the push for A2 milk won’t come from the Chinese Government but consumers.
He told dairy leaders that A2 milk was the “largest selling milk” in Australian supermarkets.
“I know this because I’m part of the Australian A2 milk story,” he says.
Woodford says he recently spoke to 6500 “medical folks” in Australia about A2 milk.
“The demand for A2 milk is going to increase around the world,” he says.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet”
He says dairy companies around the world had been ignoring A2 milk until recently.
Fonterra announced a strategic partnership with the a2 Milk Company in February this year.
Over the years the co-op had downplayed the importance of A2 milk.
Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.
Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne says their joint venture with Alliance Group will create “a dynamic industry competitor”.
Tributes have flowed following the death of former Prime Minister and political and business leader, Jim Bolger. He was 90.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
Farmer shareholders of meat processor Alliance have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish company, Dawn Meats.
The former chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and farmer, Doug Leeder, says rural communities' biggest fear right now is the lack of long-term certainty over environmental regulations.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.