Regenerative agriculture has been a hotbed for debate in recent times in New Zealand. Does the term 'regenerative agriculture' suggest that conventional farming is 'de-generative'? Where is the disconnect between those advocating for regenerative farming practice and those doubting the practice? What research needs to be undertaken to prove/disprove both the efficiency and effectiveness of regenerative practices?
We have 3 regenerative agriculture experts joining us for our next Innovation Series event to discuss how they define regenerative agriculture, where/whether regenerative agriculture has its place in the future of NZ sustainable farming practice and where the future of the regenerative agriculture debate may go to next.
This is an information session for those wanting to ask questions around the regenerative agriculture shift from experts who have either worked with farmers working on their own regenerative farming practice or have/are current farmers implementing regenerative practices on their own soil.
The opinions of the panellists does not necessarily constitute the opinion of B.linc Innovation or parent organisation, Lincoln University. The intention of this event is to provide information on personal perspectives of regenerative agriculture culture. Future events are planned to facilitate a discussion around the appropriation of regenerative agriculture for the NZ landscape.
Timings:
8.30am: Arrival
8.45am: Breakfast & networking
9.05am: Welcome & introduction
9.15am: Keynote address 1:
Sam Lang (Nuffield Scholar, Independent Researcher, Former Shepherd, Former Stock Manager)
9.30am: Keynote address 2:
Emily House (Technical Advisor - 5th Business Agri)
9.45am: Keynote address 3 :
Jono Frew (Regenerative Agriculture Coach, Owner - Natural Performance, Director - Symbiosis Ag)
10.00am: Panel discussion/interactive Q&A session with the audience
10.30am: Speaking finishes, networking
11.00am: Event finishes
About our speakers:
Emily House (Technical Advisor - 5th Business Agri)
Emily currently works with farmers across New Zealand to improve stock wellness. Emily knows that stock wellness is highly dependant on diet and finds working with farmers to improve animal performance and efficiency, incredibly rewarding. She knows the correlation between enhanced animal production and the reduction in agricultural emissions and has made it her passion to improve animal efficiency in NZ farming. Emily has previously worked as a government geologist in Australia where she gained extensive experience in soils and enjoys applying this knowledge to soil nutrition and animal health.
Sam Lang (Manager of Quorum Sense, Independent Researcher, Nuffield Scholar, former hill country farmer)
Sam is the Manager of Quorum Sense - NZ's regenerative farming network - which works to support farmers and the wider community to share knowledge and ideas about regenerative farming systems & practices. He also works as an independent researcher alongside Dr Gwen Grelet from Manaaki Whenua co-leading transformative research approaches exploring regenerative agriculture. Sam works through a farmer/community-driven innovation approach that integrates grassroots creativity and pragmatism with the wider agri-food system. His background includes a strong foundation in environmental science and climate change, four years hill country farming in Hawke's Bay and a 2016 Nuffield Scholarship where he travelled the world studying farm system transformations.
Jono Frew (Regenerative Agriculture Coach, Owner - Natural Performance, Director - Symbiosis Ag)
Jono Frew has extensive experience working in dairy, arable, sheep and beef farming and became an award-winning farm manager but an accident left Jono rethinking his career. This saw him taking a side step into agricultural spraying and fertislising. Jono then moved on from there with a brand new mindset and a mission to understand what really was best for people, farm and environment. Jono now enjoys bringing academia and innovative farming together through his new venture, Quorum Sense Charitable Trust, with the aim to help farmers reach new levels of profitability, resilience and joy from regenerative farming.