Rabobank 2026 Outlook: Geopolitics shapes global agriculture
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
Rabobank's regional manager for Australia and New Zealand, Mark Wiessing, is joining the bank's NZ board.
He replaces Lara Yocarini, who is stepping down after more than three years on the Rabobank New Zealand board.
Subject to regulatory approval, Yocarini has taken up a new role as chief executive officer of Rabobank's global asset finance subsidiary De Lage Landen (DLL). She will also be a member of Rabobank's managing board. Wiessing had more than 30 years' international experience in the financial sector, including postings in South America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
He joined Rabobank in 2006 and was regional manager South America and chief executive officer for Brazil for eight years prior to his appointment as regional manager for Rabobank Australia and New Zealand in May 2023.
Before joining Rabobank, Wiessing held roles with other leading financial institutions, including Standard Bank of South Africa, Citibank and ING.
The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.
Undoubtedly the doyen of rural culture, always with a wry smile, our favourite ginger ninja, Te Radar, in conjunction with his wife Ruth Spencer, has recently released an enchanting, yet educational read centred around rural New Zealand in one hundred objects.
Farmers are being urged to keep on top of measures to control Cysticerus ovis - or sheep measles - following a spike in infection rates.
The avocado industry is facing an extremely challenging season with all parts of the supply chain, especially growers, being warned to prepare for any eventuality.

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