Comment: Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland encourages all New Zealanders to attend the Primary Industries NZ Summit in July this year.
I am great at parties.
We are celebrating the absolute best of New Zealand's primary industries at the up-coming Primary Industries NZ Summit.
The summit will bring mindsfrom all industry aspects to talk about the challenges and opportunities that face all of us – everything from climate change to biosecurity to building a sustainable labour market.
The summit replaces Federated Farmers' national conference.
It is a sign about how the advocacy group is moving and changing to meet the needs of its ever-diversifying communities – our communities include our domestic and international customers.
Farming in New Zealand is changing but so are the needs of overseas consumers – we as an industry collective are on the front of those changes and demands.
Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland. Photo / Supplied
Running alongside that challenge is the very real fact that farmers will be one of the first groups that will have to deal with the very real impacts of climate change as the warming extenuates the very worst of our weather and we can no longer rely on the cold to keep the bugs at bay.
The summit will be held at New Zealand's national museum Te Papa, a fitting backdrop for the frank and honest discussions and exchanges I expect to take place.
I am incredibly excited about the July summit.
A lot of hard work has gone into the behind scenes aspects of it.
I do not have an army at my disposal – I have the next best thing - a hardworking team skilled at logistics and working under dynamic changing circumstances.
I want to take this opportunity to talk to all of you – the New Zealand public. This is an invitation to attend the summit.
If you have ever wanted to talk to the person who makes your food, if you want to talk to the people in charge of making sure you get to experience food security, this is your opportunity to speak with them.
