Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has been on his first overseas trip in nearly two years.
The co-op confirmed that Hurrell was in Europe and the Middle East on a two-week visit to meet customers and staff.
A Fonterra spokesperson says it's been nearly two years since Hurrell has been able to get out and see offshore customers and employees.
"With 95% of our product exported and half our employees outside NZ, it's important he gets to see some of them face to face."
The trip included a visit to Fonterra's Amsterdam office where it's chief executive officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa Kelvin Wickham is based.
On October 29 Hurrell was in Brussels to meet with European Dairy Association president Giuseppe Ambrosi.
The EDA says the meeting discussed the Dairy Product Environmental Footprint, a project measuring the emission footprint of dairy products.
Fonterra is one of the six dairy companies involved in the project.
Fonterra has confirmed that Hurrell will isolate at home upon his return.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
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Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.