Why (bother)?

Over the past 35 years I’ve watched, participated in, and despaired over the fact that New Zealand agriculture doesn’t own its own story.

As a writer of novels, science, technology and innovation (see www.sticknz.net) and a host of other material, I’ve seen that if you don’t have your personal, company or country story under control, you’re totally undifferentiated.

As a father, currently, the last thing I’d recommend that my children consider as a career is one in agriculture – and this is from someone who is originally off a Southland sheep farm, possesses an agricultural science degree and has been employed in agriculture on and off for much of my life.

My observation of we Kiwis (myself included) is we’re uncomfortable talking about intangibles such as the inherent romance and image of what our products represent.

But, I argue, unless we think beyond the rational, our agriculture’s dead in the water, consigned to a slow spiral of death.

This is taking the opportunity to own our story.

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