Dairy farming and environmental sustainability are increasingly inseparable.
This week, more than 100 farmers, policy makers, politicians and other industry influencers will gather at the annual Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) Forum to workshop positive environmental change for New Zealand dairy.
DEL is a multi-generational network of dairy farmers accelerating practical environmental progress across the sector.
“Across the country, dairy farmers are proving that sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand. Our goal is to leave the land better than we found it for future generations. It’s a long game, but it’s also good business,” says Amber Carpenter, chair of DEL and a dairy farmer from Hunua.
“Smart environmental decisions improve efficiency, reduce waste and risk, and help protect our licence to operate in a market that increasingly rewards low-impact food production. All the small changes each day and each season add up to a bigger overall impact. Together we can make a huge difference.”
Supported by DairyNZ, the DEL Forum brings together some of New Zealand’s most innovative farming leaders to share on-farm learnings, explore the latest research, and advance restoration and environmental stewardship.
Over the years DEL has mobilised thousands of farmers to take action on their farms and in their communities to improve environmental outcomes for all New Zealanders.
DairyNZ Chair (and former DEL chair) Tracy Brown says the industry is building for the future, and capacity, resilience and environmental improvements must be part of that growth.
“It’s a good time to be in dairy right now. We’re discussing how we can grow, while improving our environmental footprint. We face an important test: meeting our climate, water quality and biodiversity expectations while continuing to supply the world with high-quality food. However, future capability and capacity remain concerns, with the average age of our workforce at 58,” says Tracy.
“DEL provides a pathway. Its members demonstrate leadership across multiple generations and show the strength of collective action. The network spans farmers in their 20s through to their 80s, all working to improve the land and motivate others to deliver on environmental goals. Environmental action is no longer the work of a few outliers, it’s becoming business-as-usual on farm.”
The DEL forum is taking place at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 March.
Alongside interactive seminars covering technology, community engagement, government relations, pan-sector strategy and trade, participants will hear from: award-winning South Taranaki dairy farmer Brendan Attrill (on balancing environmental stewardship with profitability); DairyNZ strategic consultant Bruce Thorrold (on 30 years of agricultural evolution); Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Divisional Manager (Trade Policy Engagement & Implementation) Barney Riley; former Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Hamish Marr; and Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton.
Media invitation
This year, DEL will also present the inaugural DEL Kaitiaki Award at a stakeholder event held in the Parliament Grand Hall the evening of Wednesday 25 March. Media are invited to attend the event from 6.15pm-7.15pm. Please RSVP to Kirsten Rose.
About DEL
The Dairy Environment Leaders network was formed by farmers, DairyNZ and the NZ Farm Environment Trust in 2007. It aims to empower leadership and provide opportunities to support and share on-farm actions to reduce environmental footprint and broader sustainability issues. There are about 400 members – all environmentally focused dairy farmers who are committed to creating a sustainable future in dairying.
Media Contact
Kirsten Rose
Senior Corporate Communications Advisor
p: 027 383 6937
e: kirsten.rose@dairynz.co.nz
