Annual Export Insights 2024 – Embracing Innovation in the Primary Sector

Embracing Innovation in the Primary sector

Kiwis have long been known for living close to the land, for their can-do attitude, for being able to make anything out of No. 8 fencing wire, and for their laid-back, ‘she’ll be right’ attitude to life and work. But times have changed, and so has our society and economy.  We need to make sure our natural resources are managed to maximise productivity, and at the same time, to minimise negative environmental effects and to meet the changing demands of consumers.

Innovative systems and processes now make primary industries highly efficient and technology increasingly takes the guess work out of primary production.

Join us to learn about how our exporters are creating and commercialising new innovations to gain maximum value in global markets.

Date: Friday 1^st November 2024
Time: Registration 1:45, 2pm – 4pm followed by drinks and light bites.
Venue: Shakespeare Room, Toi Toi Events and Conference Centre

Subsidised Tickets: $49 + gst,

Tickets are heavily subsidised and strictly limited so please book early.

Meet the speakers 

MC – CATHERINE BEARD, DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY, BUSINESSNZ

NICK TUFFLEY, CHIEF ECONOMIST, ASB

Nick Tuffley was appointed as ASB’s Chief Economist in January 2007, having previously worked at Westpac and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.  He and the rest of the Economics team provide regular analysis of economic developments and the outlook through written publications and media comments.

Their key objective is to help the bank’s clients make better-informed business and personal finance decisions.  The Economics team has won 4 Consensus Economics Forecast Accuracy Awards for their NZ forecasts.

MIKE PETERSEN – CHAIR, SCALES CORPORATION

Mike Petersen is an award winning farmer and industry leader in the New Zealand agribusiness community. After 35 years of sheep and beef farming In Hawke’s Bay, Mike is now focussed on governance and advisory roles with a number of New Zealand companies and multinational businesses. Mike served as New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy from 2013 to 2019 and in 2018 Mike was awarded the New Zealand Agricultural Communicator of the Year.

Mike is an Independent Director and Chair of NZX listed Scales Corporation and also has governance roles as an Independent Director on the boards of ANZCO Foods, Kelso Genetics and Rimanui Farms. He is also the Chair of Tukituki Water Security Limited, looking to revive and restart water storage to provide water security for the Hawke’s Bay region, and sits on advisory boards implementing carbon forestry projects for four NZX listed companies and Todd Corporation through their investment vehicles Forest Partners and Dryland Carbon.

STEVE CROWHURST – PARTERNSHIPS, HALTER

Halter is the world’s leading smart collar system for dairy and beef cows, used by over 250,000 animals in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Recognised as the leading agri-tech coming out of New Zealand, having won the “Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution” award at last year’s prestigious New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards, and currently one of New Zealand’s fastest growing companies.

Steve is Halter’s Partnership Manager and a member of Halter’s leadership team, responsible for managing key industry relationships across Australia and New Zealand. He brings a wealth of firsthand agricultural experience, as his family owns and operates a dairy farm in the Waikato. Steve joined Halter five years ago, initially responsible for introducing the Halter system to market. In the following years he spearheaded Halter’s expansion across New Zealand and into Tasmania.

HAMISH PENNY – FOUNDER, CROPTIDE

Hamish is the founder and CEO of Croptide, a Hawkes Bay based agritech start-up developing technology to ‘translate the language of plants’. Croptide utilises a sensor that plugs directly into the stem of permanent crops such as apples, wine and kiwifruit to directly measure insights such as water and nutrient status in real time. Now active with growers such as T&G, Rockit, Zespri, Villa Maria, Cloudy Bay, Pernod Ricard and Yealands, Croptide aims to allow key management decisions to be driven directly from the plant – reducing complexity for managers, optimising productivity and minimising environmental impact. In addition to New Zealand, Croptide has active trials in California, Washington State, Spain, France and Italy. Hamish is passionate about providing revolutionary technology that can help growers to cope with the numerous challenges they face.

JULIAN DIRKS – CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER, ZIWI

With 28 years experience in the manufacture of food for both humans and pets, Julian spent his first decade in the New Zealand dairy industry, in roles ranging from manufacturing support through to R&D portfolio management.

His work focused on helping clients turn product ideas into commercial reality. During this period Julian was introduced to the pet food industry and instantly became fascinated by the scientific challenges involved. In his current role Julian is focused on building the scientific expertise required to enable innovation and business growth.

Register Here