Food, Farming & Freshwater Roadshow

Time: 4.30pm - 8.30 pm
Venue: Maramarua Golf Club, 40 Golf Road, Mangatāwhiri.
Partners: Mangatangi Maramarua Catchment Inc.

Speakers:

Urban-Rural Partnerships for Equal Change – Dana Carver, Scarlatti
Some farmers say they are tired of people with “no skin in the game” telling them to make difficult changes and sacrifices. This project tested the idea that greater change will happen, both on farm and off, when urban and rural businesses collaborate and support each other on the environmental journey. This project tested the idea that if farmers see urban groups making equal change to improve the environment, they would be more motivated to make change themselves. 

Options for Rural Investment – Carla Muller, PerrinAg
Farmers in Aotearoa are being prompted to diversify their farm systems to make sure their businesses are resilient to the changing climate and extreme weather events, to meet environmental expectations and regulations, and to diversify their income streams. This project investigated new and innovative financing solutions to help them overcome barriers to diversification by funding land use and capital-intensive land management changes solutions to help make this happen.

Connecting Producers and Consumers – Robyn Kannemeyer, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
How can those living in rural communities use their skills, influence and farmer trust, to aid the sector in building social licence. Do farmers perceive good farming practice differently from consumers and citizens in Aotearoa? Aligning the perceptions and practices of ‘good farming’ may be key to community approval or acceptance (social licence to operate).

Revitalise Te Taiao – Rere ki Uta Rere ti Kai – Ashna Khan, Agrisea
Rere ki Ute, Rere ki Tai is part of the Revitalise Te Taiao research programme which has worked alongside agribusiness and communities to revitalise te Taiao (the environment). The project looked to find out whether using farming methods that enhance the soil are more resilient, more profitable, more able to withstand environmental, societal and regulatory pressure, and healthier for all. On-farm, the research considers whole-of-system wellbeing through metrics across soil health, animal wellbeing, milk and meat quality, ecological and environmental health, as well as looking at financial measures of farm success.

Pa to Plate – Paul Voight, Nikau Pacific Group
Pā to Plate is centred on growing growers, growing kai, and growing communities, and strengthening connections: between kāinga, kai and ancestrally based kōrero. Pā to Plate as a cultural – economic system, can be replicated in any region based on some foundation principles. However, essential to any success is understanding the complex range of challenges which are historically based and then planning for and mitigating against them.

Peri-Urban Potential – Shannon Davis, Lincoln University
The productive land surrounding New Zealand cities is increasingly under threat from urban expansion. These peri-urban zones are vitally important to New Zealand’s settlements, communities, ecology, and economies. Can we design our green spaces differently to provide both areas for local food production and new housing, while benefitting ecology local communities?