RaboTalk – Growing our future

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Katie Rodwell is joined by Tre' Cates. Tre' is a managing director of nRhythm, and an expert in regenerative practises in agriculture and business. This episode focuses on creating healthy workplaces, and creating business models to optimise productivity and efficiency. Katie and Tre' discuss how he got into this niche line of work, and how Re...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Katie Rodwell is joined by Andy Caughey. Andy is the CEO of Wool Impact, an advocacy group for the uses and benefits of wool. This episode focuses on the strong wool industry, and the work they are doing to promote 'the best natural fibre in the world. Katie and Andy discuss how Wool Impact came to be, and where they are trying to steer the in...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Katie Rodwell is joined by Adam and Laura Cullen. Adam and Laura own and operate a 220-ha dairy farm in Kaipara, focusing on maintaining profitability while farming regeneratively and responsibly. This episode focuses on using soil health to create financial value, looking for wins outside of the numbers, and how they're changing the game from...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Katie Rodwell is joined by Wayne McNee. Wayne is the Chief Executive of AgriZero NZ, a partnership between government and private agribusinesses aiming to reduce on farm emissions in a profitable, productive manner. This episode focuses on AgriZero's purpose in this space, and what they are hoping to deliver to the rural sector. Katie and Wayn...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, Blake Holgate and Katie Rodwell reflect on the highlights and learnings from 2023. 2023 was a year of uncertainty in the rural sector, and this was a common theme running through many of our episodes. Through this uncertainty, some of our guests have provided great insights into looking to the long term, and the value of having a strategy. The grow...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Blake Holgate is joined by Richard Lorraway. Richard is the Chief Risk Officer at Rabobank, and has almost 30 years' experience in the banking sector. This episode focuses on risk in banking, and the growing role sustainability is playing in this space. Blake and Richard discuss the how the bank is approaching climate risk, what it is, and how...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Blake Holgate is joined by Richard Green. Richard sits on the board of multiple New Zealand agribusinesses, and has a wealth of experience in the corporate, rural sector. This episode focuses on the importance of taking a strategic approach to dealing with the changes, challenges & opportunities facing agri-businesses. There are some great...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Katie Rodwell is joined by AgFirst Consultant and recent university graduate, Chelsea Hopkins. Chelsea is Manawatu born and bred, currently working as an Agribusiness and Environmental Consultant at one of New Zealand's leading consultancy firms. This episode is a must listen for anyone beginning their career in a rural support role, or for an...

In this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, Katie Rodwell is joined by James Robertson. James is a Fonterra Trade Strategy Manager for Asia, based in Shanghai. Living in the world's largest dairy consuming region has given him a unique perspective of New Zealand, on an international scale. This episode focuses on James's role navigating sustainability, regulation, culture, and markets. Katie...

In this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, Katie Rodwell is joined by Reuben Casey. Reuben is the COO of Craigmore Sustainables, a kiwi company working to connect farmers and investors across the agricultural, horticultural, and forestry sectors. This episode focuses on Craigmore's business drivers and focus, and with such a wide scope of sectors it is something that almost every farmer and...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Katie Rodwell is joined by Rhys Roberts. As the CEO of Align Group, Rhys keep's himself busy overseeing seven farms, a market garden, a yogurt brand and milk processing facility. This episode focuses on Rhys regenerative farm trials compared to his conventionally run farms, and on using the data that comes out of it. Katie and Rhys discuss the...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Blake Holgate is joined by Cheyenne Wilson. Cheyenne was previously Chair of the Food and Fibre Youth Network, and is an advocate for young people wanting to enter or advance in the rural sector. This episode focuses on the future of New Zealand agriculture, and on the young people who are moving into the sector. Blake and Cheyenne discuss the...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Katie Rodwell is joined by Tim Dangen. As the winner of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year 2022, Tim has spent the last 12 months as an advocate for the rural sector. This episode focuses on how we are giving opportunities to the young leaders in our sector and supporting them to thrive. Katie and Tim discuss Tim's on-farm sustainability journey...

Before people arrived in New Zealand, 80% of the country was covered in forest, and now it's only 15%. On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Katie Rodwell is joined by the founder of Restore Native, and winner of the Kaitiakitanga Award at the 2023 Primary Industry NZ Awards, Adam Thompson. Together Katie and Adam explore the benefits of planting natives and being proud of your la...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, we continue the series examining what is happening on the ground in key food-producing regions. This episode focuses on North America, the world's largest exporter of food. Host Blake Holgate is joined by Vice President of Rural Sustainability for Rabobank North America, Cristian Barcan, to discuss what is being done to improve on-farm sustainabili...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Blake Holgate is joined by farmer Fraser McGougan. Fraser, chair of DairyNZ's Climate Change Ambassadors, and his wife Katherine own a dairy farm in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and were winners of the Bay of Plenty Farm Environment Awards Supreme Award in 2019. This episode focuses on understanding what is in your control as a farmer when it com...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future , we continue the series examining what is happening on the ground in key food-producing regions. This episode focuses on the Netherlands, who's farmers and growers produce enough food to be the world's second largest exporter of agricultural products from an area of land roughly the size of Otago. Blake is joined by Jeen Nijboer, Rabobank's Manager...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Blake Holgate kicks off a series of episodes examining what is happening on the ground in key food-producing regions. We'll be diving into sustainability from a government, industry, and farmer perspective worldwide, offering valuable insights for New Zealand farmers and growers. To start off, we're focusing on Australia with Crawford Taylor,...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, host Katie Rodwell is joined by Kate Scott, an Executive Director of the surveying and environmental consulting business Landpro. This episode focuses on the freshwater systems vital to our way of life, our environment, and our communities, and how Freshwater Farm Plans (FWFPs) benefit farmers, growers, and waterways. Katie and Kate discuss where w...

On this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future , host Katie Rodwell is joined by David Todd, the man behind Toddy Talks. Toddy is a facilitator for the East Coast Rural Support Trust. This episode focuses on farmer resilience, talking through the issues of isolation and often-stressful nature of agriculture, with severe weather and volatile trading conditions which can put pressure on rural fami...

In this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future, Blake Holgate is joined by Nick Beeby, Chair of New Zealand Farm Assurance Inc. Nick wears a number of hats, another of which is as the General Manager of Market Development at Beef+Lamb NZ. This episode focuses on farm assurance programmes, and the opportunities to utilise these to add more value to the farming business beyond demonstrating to a g...

In this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future , Blake Holgate is joined by Erica van Reenen. Erica is an Agricultural and Environmental Consultant, and Director of AgFirst, as well as the facilitator of Rabobank's new Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Freshwater Workshops. This episode focuses on integrated farm planning, and how to design and implement a plan that will add real value to your farm...

In this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future , Blake Holgate is joined by Gavin Marshall, Sustainability Manager at Rabobank NZ. Gavin's role at Rabobank involves ensuring data gets turned into insights that provide value to Rabobank clients. This episode focuses on how the significant amount of data farmers collect can be used in ways that provide genuine value to farming businesses. Blake an...

In this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future , Blake Holgate is joined by Chris Black, Rabobank NZ board chairman and former CEO of rural insurance company FMG. This episode focuses on trends and disruptions that are reshaping the insurance industry and scratches the surface of how climate change might change the future of insurance. Blake and Chris discuss the different types of risks we are...

In this episode of RaboTalk's Growing our future , Blake Holgate is joined by Taihape farmer Mark Chrystall. Mark is a Rabobank Client Council member, and the deputy Chair of the Rangitīkei Rivers Catchment Collective. This episode focuses on the role of rural communities and catchment groups in supporting farmers and growers to understand the environmental and social risks and opportunities relev...