"The strategy refresh is due to be launched later this year and will seek to balance the demands of being competitive and profitable with the rising expectations of our consumers and communities."
Building on the work completed four years ago, we have set out to engage a wide range of stakeholders and farmers in the formation of this refresh.
At workshops, in online forums and through sector bodies and meetings it is clear that while there are many challenges ahead the majority are not unique to dairy. And while many of the discussions have been 'robust', there is overwhelming support for dairy to remain a successful part of the New Zealand economy and communities.
Recently, we have been talking with farmers across the country about what they see as the priorities for the sector and where they want to see focus and leadership. It wouldn't be a surprise to you that our dairy farmers share the same urgency and commitment to the topics as our stakeholders.
The farmer workshop discussions have been wide-ranging, with discussions on subjects from the future of food through to the future of the workplace and the sustainability of our rural communities. What has been striking is the consistency of topics in the discussions and the consistency in suggested focus points to make progress.
Emerging in the strategy refresh are six key themes that, although of no surprise to those in the sector, will provide goals that are an evolution of what we have focused on in the past. The themes of environment, animal welfare, workforce, our communities, global competitiveness, and consumers will all form the backbone of our new strategy.
The strategy refresh is due to be launched later this year and will seek to balance the demands of being competitive and profitable with the rising expectations of our consumers and communities.
As I said earlier, many of the topics - such as our workforce - are not unique to dairy and progress will depend as much on partnerships and collaboration with other sectors than it will on the efforts of dairy alone.
As one participant eloquently stated in a workshop "this can't be a lonely strategy" and they're right.
Dairy farmers want to be proud of their work and contribution to New Zealand and the communities that they live and farm.
Their ambitions are just as high or higher for a sustainable dairy sector but they know they need the right partners and focus to get there.
I feel confident that this strategy refresh will form an important next step in the development of a New Zealand dairy sector that delivers returns for its farmers, its communities and for the environment.
