"Within the dairy industry, New Zealand is a giant. However, the neocooperative and free market management system has attracted the ire of larger competitors such as the United States and the European Union. This paper provides an overview of the history of the New Zealand dairy industry and the changes the New Zealand government has made to remain agile and receptive to change, including restructuring the industry to place the New Zealand Dairy Board and later Fonterra as the sole exporter of dairy products. But, as this paper argues, perhaps New Zealand's biggest challenges and obstacles lie ahead. In light of potential trade liberalization within mega deals and increasing competition from the United States and the European Union, New Zealand must now be aggressive and innovative in finding new markets, maintaining their export base and standing their ground in the face of cut-throat and unapologetic international competition." --
Using a political-economic approach supplemented with insights from human ecology, this volume analyzes the long-term dynamics of food security and economic growth. The book begins by discussing the nature of preindustrial food crises and the changes that have occurred since the 19th century with the ascent of technical science and the fossil fuel revolution. It explains how these changes improved living standards but that the realization of this improvement was usually dependent on government support for smallholder modernization. The author sets out how the evolution of food security in different regions has been influenced by farm policy choices and how these choices were shaped by local societal characteristics, international relations and changing configurations in metropolitan countries. Separate chapters are devoted to the interaction of this evolution with debates on food security and economic growth and with international economic policies. The final chapters highlight the new challenges for global food security that will arise as traditional sources of biomass production and the more easily extractable reserves of fossil biomass become depleted or can no longer be used. Overall, the book emphasizes the inadequacy of current explanations with regard to these challenges. It explores what is needed to ensure a sustainable future and calls for a rethinking of these issues; a necessary reflection in today's unstable global political situation.
"In the words of two former prime ministers..."The story of the incredible journey of New Zealand's dairy farmers and the co-operative enterprises that processed and marketed their milk needed to be told. Clive Lind's Till the Cows Came Home is a compelling story of how New Zealand's largest company, Fonterra, came into existence, the battles that had to be fought to retain the co-operative structure that has served both dairy farmers and New Zealand well, and the role of the leading political figures of the times." - Jim Bolger. "In many ways the story of the dairy industry is also the story of New Zealand. For a long time we enjoyed the guarantee of the British market; then Britain joined the European Community. It was time to grow up. Our country has been blessed with fine industry leaders, committed and talented public servants and a long line of dedicated politicians. Patriots all, people who could see beyond immediate self-interest and instinctively sought solutions to international problems. Till the Cows Came Home shows how they fought together to build New Zealand's largest industry. It's good the story is being told -- it is New Zealand Inc at its best, an inspiring tale of pioneers and tough inventive men and women." - Mike Moore.
Gordon McLauchlan continues his bestselling Short History series with an in-depth look into the history of the farming industry in New Zealand. From the early migrant farmers and regional produce trading, to the revolution of refrigeration ¿ opening up global opportunities for our fast-growing export markets in wool, produce and more, McLauchlan covers the development of our country¿s farming culture in this accessible and informative read. ¿ Details the farming culture and methods of early Polynesian and Maori settlers. ¿ European farmers adjusting to the temperate zone crops and wildlife of New Zealand. ¿ The birth and development of regional trade industries in rural areas. ¿ Refrigeration and exporting to the British and European markets. ¿ The development of leading global trade exports in wool, dairy products, Kiwifruit and more.
In JOHN'S JOURNEY, we follow the broad history of the New Zealand Dairy Industry, highlighting its growth in the lower half of the North Island. John Whitelock identifies the pattern of rural development from flax milling to dairying, which has lead to large manufacturing sites and the beginnings of Fonterra. Woven through the historical material are references to John's own experiences and growth based on his rural upbringing. The book touches on many events. In 1954 along with three other young men, John was in an International Farm Youth Exchange Scheme, sponsored by the New Zealand Dairy Board, the New Zealand Meat Board and the Unitd States Government. The experience was both unique and challenging. Marriage, the family farm, community involvement, the directorate and chairmanships of various companies largely related to the New Zealand Dairy Industry and beyond form an eventful journey. Documents and photographs illustrate this important commentary with rare historical records, which have become cornerstones of the New Zealand Dairy Industry's history. This book forms an important link in regard to the commercial and human endeavours that have contributed to the growth of New Zealand - Aotearoa.
Despite being a small country, the use of top grade technology available in the world has made the New Zealand (NZ) dairy industry the largest exporter of dairy products around the world. The key strengths of the NZ dairy industry have been attributed to large-scale processing, and engagements in research and development activities leading to high operational efficiencies in the industry. The Indian dairy sector on the other hand, cannot export dairy products in the world market, despite being the largest producer of milk. The quality standards of the Indian dairy sector inhibit the industries place in the global market and also present significant risks for consumers within the Indian market. Thus, it poses a significant opportunity for NZ to engage in technological transfers for improving the quality standards of the Indian dairy sector that would foster mutual gains for both economies. The aim of this research is to determine how NZ would gain by engaging in technological transfers to India. A comprehensive review of the literature and case studies on international technology transfer, quality management in the NZ and Indian dairy industries, and the Free Trade Agreement has been undertaken, which is then assessed against the qualitative data collected through key industry leaders of India and NZ. The main contribution of this research stems from the fact that for the first time the theory of international technology transfers has been applied to NZ and Indian dairy industries by carrying out a qualitative assessment. Some of the key theories of international technology transfer previously assessed through traditionalist means of quantitative research have now been evidenced through qualitative empirical accounts. The study confirms that NZ (Fonterra) would stand to gain from technological transfers to India. Fonterra envisions a number of areas where it has the potential to share its expertise with the Indian dairy industry. This would assist the Indian dairy sector to alleviate from major challenges India faces in successfully managing their quality standards. However, Fonterra sees the barrier to trade as an important impediment for making such investments. It would be in the interests of the Indian government to open its market to NZ for trade in the dairy sector in order to gain access to key knowledge and technological initiatives Fonterra and the NZ government take for mutual gains.
