Farmers Weekly By Article by Annette Scott

Work together, industry told

Verified sustainable production right across supply chains is key to New Zealand beef improving its standing on the world stage, says NZ Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (NZRSB) chair Grant Bunting. The results of a pilot programme conducted by NZRSB and delivered at a field day on Rangitikei Station last week are proof NZ can do it, Bunting said.The NZRSB, formed late last year, is about beef industry stakeholders from across the supply chain working to position NZ as a leading producer of beef that is safe and produced in a way that is environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable. “We need to ensure we not only keep up with other countries, we want to be world leaders,” Bunting said.As part of the process, the Roundtable has defined standards for NZ and identified the metrics for achieving the standards in practice.This has seen six farming operations put to the test to push the boundaries of the NZ farm assurance programme (FAP) in the verified sustainable beef pilot.

Students learn about meat industry

A group of students from around the country interested in a career in the red meat industry recently spent a day in Wellington learning about the sector.Every year the Meat Industry Association (MIA) offers a number of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships, worth $5000 and $10,000 respectively, to encourage young people in studies that meet the wide range of opportunities that the industry can offer as a career.MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the Wellington visit was part of a mentoring and networking support programme that MIA has developed for the scholars.“The initiative was a great opportunity for potential future leaders of the industry to meet and hear from the organisations that take New Zealand’s red meat to the world,” she said.“Many of our scholars are already making a valuable contribution to the industry through research projects or undertaking part-time work.“MIA scholars are an enthusiastic group of young people, passionate about their areas of study and research and this was a great opportunity for them to network and learn more about the sector to help them decide the direction of their future careers.”

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