Johan van Ras

Johan’s just one of DairyNZ’s people helping to make sustainability work on the ground, with real tools and farmer-focused support. He describes his job as being full of rewards.

“We’re grounded in farming and backed by scientific evidence,” says Johan. “Our team’s uniquely placed to help farmers meet future challenges, by bridging the gap between science and practice. We want to find achievable, affordable options aligned with future regulatory and market demands, while minimising farmers’ environmental footprint.”

Building trust, innovation, and collaboration with and between experts and farmers, is an important part of the process.

“Farmers get early access to science that’s tailored to their context, and researchers benefit from farmer insight in shaping future relevant studies. This means solutions are more likely to be adopted and deliver meaningful impact on-farm.”

Johan’s had years of hands-on experience as a dairy farmer, has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, and a wealth of career experience. He and wife Kylie also won the 2021 Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards, so he really walks the talk.

“I’ve carried out governance roles across catchment groups and sat on the New Zealand Shareholders Representative Council. I also lead biodiversity and restoration projects that combine science, community, and culture. Multiple sustainable strategies adopted on our own farm range from wetland restoration, to improving farm practice efficiency.”

A typical week for Johan sees him in the office, as well as out and about, which helps him keep his work meaningful and grounded.

“On the office side, I work with data, create farmer-facing resources, and collaborate with our science team on accurate and farmer-relevant messaging. Out on farms, I’m walking catchments, supporting restoration projects, helping interpret water quality data, and giving practical guidance to farmers.”

Highlights for Johan have included partnering with iwi on biodiversity projects, integrating mātauranga Māori with Western science, and co-developing solutions that align with values, culture, and science.

“Also, when farmers see biodiversity return or clearer water in their streams, and know their efforts are making a difference – that’s incredibly rewarding. It’s proof that practical action can lead to positive change.”

• Find out more about DairyNZ’s other specialist team members.
• Check out our research team and our regional teams.