Justin Kitto

The most rewarding aspect of Justin’s role is working with farmers who are excited about making changes on-farm to improve the environment, and finding ways to do things differently.

Justin finds ways to integrate environmental practice within the traditional cows/grass/profit approach to farming. With a freshwater ecology background, he brings together the most recent environmental research, knowledge of best practice, an understanding of market expectations with the work of traditional farm systems experts.

He supports catchment groups, DairyNZ’s policy team, and works alongside farmers to support their on-the-ground actions.

“DairyNZ’s policy work includes influencing local and central government policies and rules, so they make it easier for farmers to care for the environment,” says Justin. “For example, from building wetlands on-farm, I’ve seen first-hand how the rules make it harder for farmers to do this.

“I’ve taken these learnings, looked at the rules and their intent, then talked to councils about what can be changed to make it easier for farmers to create wetlands. We’ve also helped to make policies, rules and regulations around wintering practices more effective, evidence-based, and practical.”

As well as having a Master’s in Environmental Science (Freshwater Ecology), Justin’s been an environmental scientist for a coal mining company and a regional council, before joining DairyNZ.

“No two days are the same in this job,” he says. “I could be reading a policy document to figure out the implications for farmers from a new policy; participating in a workshop; helping at a catchment group field day; working on-site with planting and digger operators to develop wetlands; supporting dairy farmers to change a particular practice or to enhance their farm’s environment; or be a witness in the Environment Court.”

Justin says it’s important that DairyNZ’s research is often co-developed and/or tested with farmers. “That way, we and they learn from each other, which allows that knowledge to be transferred and also shared and adapted elsewhere on other farms.”

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