NZ Food Brands Back New Zealand Grown Grains Campaign
Some of New Zealand’s best-loved food brands have been quick to sign up for a new campaign which reinforces their home-grown status.
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) has appointed Dr Scott Champion as its new chief executive.
FAR board chair, Steven Bierema, says Champion’s skills are well matched to the developing needs of New Zealand’s arable industry and its growers.
“Scott has been involved with the New Zealand and Australian food and fibre industries for 25 years, holding leadership and governance roles in research, tertiary education, marketing and industry good and has strong networks across agribusiness, government and other sectors,” he says.
Champion is a founding partner of consulting company Primary Purpose, the programme director of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme and a former chief executive of Beef + Lamb New Zealand and of the New Zealand Meat Board.
This experience will be invaluable to FAR and levy payers, says Bierema.
Champion says he is looking forward to supporting arable farmers as they work through the numerous challenges and opportunities facing their industry.
“Growers are dealing with a lot; understanding everything from how to reduce environmental impacts to meeting customer and consumer needs, and of course, remaining profitable. I’ve been involved in developing strategies and programmes to address some of these issues in both arable and other food and fibre industries and look forward to working with and supporting growers and the broader arable industry.”
Champion will take over from current FAR chief executive, Dr Alison Stewart on 1 July.
Forestry Minister Todd McClay has today congratulated the winners of the 2026 Growing Native Forests Champions Awards at Fieldays.
The Government has announced $60,000 to provide one-off grants of $1,000 to each of the 60 New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) clubs across the country.
New Zealand’s rural sector has once again demonstrated its generosity, with the second Rural Industry Leaders Dinner, Debate and Auction raising an impressive $400,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
There has been another twist to the Federated Farmers annual election fiasco.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.

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