55 Years in Agribusiness – challenge, opportunity and change

It is indeed an honour and privilege to be asked to deliver this year’s Sir Bruce Levy oration. While I was not an evangelist of Sir Bruce Levy’s writings, as students of the 1960’s we were well aware of the significant influence his work played in shaping the grassland systems of New Zealand farming. By the time we graduated in the 1970’s Sir Bruce’s ideas and Grassland DSIR were well advanced in breeding grasses and legumes that fitted with intensive grazing systems across the country. His legacy still prevails today in our modern grassland systems. My topic for today is “55 years in Agribusiness – challenge, opportunity and change“. It poses a few anecdotes of my journey and experiences, challenges and learnings through the period of the 1970’s to 2023. I will also touch on some observations within the Maori agriculture sector during this time and the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. And finish with some thoughts for the future.