Data sharing initiative wins national award for saving farmers time
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
Fonterra chairman Peter McBride has acknowledged that despite the co-op’s improved performance, many shareholders feel under enormous pressure.
He says the rate of change on-farm, Covid, labour shortages and environmental reforms have pushed many farmers into protest, and others out of the industry.
He told Fonterra’s annual general meeting in Invercargill today that some of that change is being driven by regulation.
“More so, it is being driven by consumer, customer and community expectations,” he says.
McBride told the meeting that last year one of Fonterra’s biggest customers stopped doing business with 47 of their suppliers because they did not meet their sustainability standards.
“These suppliers couldn’t help them achieve their future sustainability targets.”
McBride reminded farmers that they need to learn to live with constant change.
“An industry that understands consumer insights and has a customer orientation will ultimately be successful.
“Coordinated change at a national level is also necessary if we want to keep the commercial competitive advantage that comes with being the world’s most carbon efficient dairy farmers.”
He says through a science-backed approach and nationally coordinated investment, together both industry and Government can solve the significant challenges of methane and water quality, while continuing to grow the sector’s export earnings at a sustainable pace.
“Fonterra will do our bit. One of the responsibilities of being a national co-operative of scale is having a meaningful voice in conversations with the Government about realistic timeframes for the changes that are needed.
“Our scale also affords us the mandate and resources to be part of the search for solutions on behalf of farmers.
“That’s why, as part of our long-term strategy, we announced our intention to approve funding of $1 billion for sustainability initiatives to meet the co-op’s environmental commitments and develop more sustainable offerings for customers.
“We also announced an intention to increase spending on research and development to approximately $160 million a year by 2030, that’s a 50% increase on today.”
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
Holstein Friesian excellence was front and centre at the 2025 Holstein Friesian NZ (HFNZ) Awards, held recently in Invercargill.
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…