Gallagher is strengthening its support for innovation in the red meat sector through a three-year sponsorship agreement with the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards.
Gallagher will sponsor the Innovative Farming Award, which recognises excellence in an innovative farm activity, or activities, that have the potential to increase on-farm profitability, safety or resource-use efficiency.
Demonstrating ‘out of the box’ thinking, the farmer or farming operation will have (or in process of completing) developed new technology, tools or processes that will benefit the business and /or farm environment and may have the potential to be scaled up for wider impact in the red meat sector.
Darrell Jones is Gallagher Animal Management General Manager for New Zealand, Latin America and Asia. He says the Awards are a natural fit for Gallagher, which provides innovative solutions and technology to help farmers transform their businesses into data-driven, precision operations.
“We hear a lot about the challenges New Zealand’s primary industries are facing. Tackling them means supporting farmers to innovate and making sure they have quality data to make the best decisions at the right time.
“The provenance of New Zealand’s red meat products is second to none. B+LNZ is doing some great work with sheep and beef farmers to ensure the industry maintains its position on the world stage. But we need to keep the momentum going and continuously find clever ways to do more with less.
“These Awards are an opportunity to cast the spotlight on innovative farmers who are leading the charge and getting creative about ways to run productive, profitable operations with less environmental impact.”
Darrell says the Awards also provide farmers with an opportunity to benchmark their own business and a platform from which to share their learnings and stories with others.
“These farming pioneers have a role to play in influencing future generations and strengthening New Zealand’s success story as global leaders in sustainable and profitable farming. We are proud to support them in their efforts.”
B+LNZ GM Farming Excellence Dan Brier says farmers are dealing with a once in generation change to their farming businesses – affecting how they farm and how they interact with their customers and their community.
“Innovative tools and techniques are crucial to ensuring New Zealand’s farmers maintain their place as the world’s best sustainable red meat producers,” he says. “It is innovations like frigerated shipping and the electric fence have driven our industry’s success and we think it is important to celebrate the individuals and organisations working on the next breakthrough.
“Gallagher’s name is iconic in New Zealand farming and synonymous with innovation in agriculture. They are the perfect match for an award dedicated to finding and celebrating the next “electric fence moment” to keep NZ’s farmers profitable and sustainable.”
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards will celebrate the people, the science, technology and innovation that makes New Zealand’s red meat sector world-leading.
The Award categories are, Emerging Achiever Award, People Development Award, Significant Sector Contribution Award, Rural Champion Award, Science and Research Award, Technology Award, Innovation Farming Award and Market Leader Award.
Entries are now open and close on 27 August. The winners will be announced at a Gala Showcase in Napier on 20 October.
Click here for more details and entry information.
