Chief Executive, Dr Scott Champion, says the Strategic Plan defines the way in which M&WNZ will do business through to 2014 ¨To see whats new, what has been retained and where the organisation is putting more or less emphasis over time. We started by looking at the issues facing the industry, considering how the industry needs to respond, and then looking at what role we can play in that response.

Farmers wanted better communication about the tools and practices that will help them be profitable on a sustainable basis. We’ve implemented organisational changes which have seen a shift of staff from Wellington to the regions and there will be an increased focus on extension work, with a dedicated extension team now operating in the regions.

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They could be accused by farmers of overoptimism, but farming leaders remain upbeat about the future of red meat production, while warning that investment was needed in marketing and markets diversified. M&WNZ chief executive Scott Champion told a recent SFF sheep and beef forum in Gore the fundamentals for red meat remained strong, and the number of affluent customers who wanted to eat red meat was growing.

With the world’s population expected to hit eight billion by 2030, global food production needed to double, and Mr Champion said while NZ could not feed the world, it had to decide exactly for who it was going to produce food reports The ODT. The population in existing red meat markets was static or falling, so it was likely new consumers would be in China, Central Asia and Africa.

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M&WNZ is calling for applications for funding for the Wool Enterprise Programme, which aims to help entrepreneurial wool businesses lay the platform for growth. The Wool Enterprise Programme is a funding initiative that was developed by the Wool Industry Network before it ceased operations, and will be overseen and managed by M&WNZ. “The programme is aimed at market-driven smaller wool industry initiatives from New Zealand farmer grower groups and manufacturers with strong links to farmer groups,” says M&WNZ Chief Executive Officer Dr Scott Champion.

Businesses may apply for up to $100,000 of funding. This funding must be matched 50:50 with funding from the applicant group. “The Wool Enterprise Programme is not designed to fund promotional projects. Instead, it offers general business mentoring and skills development and helps companies access industry networks. The focus is on improving returns to wool growers through developing general business capabilities, industry knowledge, and strategic and market planning skills. “The objective is to help produce sustainable and high performing companies that are ready to attract investment and achieve international success.”

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