By Kate Scott, Nuffield scholar, Scott of Bannockburn Vineyard is an environmental consultant. She writes in her personal capacity.
In this series, the team each offer a big-picture strategy for food & fibre.
Last week’s Eating the Elephant column by David Eade was about the “how” of our sector’s strategy to double exports. I want to talk about the “who”.
If you’re like me, all this talk of sector strategy feels like déjà vu. The fact that we’ve tried a few times to have this conversation is a sign of two things. One, that it’s a burning issue and two, we have to address the reasons previous conversations and attempts have gone nowhere.
If we want to grow exports in a way that also takes care of our land and our people, a clear strategy has to be the first step. But a strategy without a team behind it is just words on a page.
To build that team, let’s focus on four things – herding the politicians, building future leaders, collaboration by design and the consumer.
Firstly, herding the politicians, or “multipartisanship” for the policy wonks out there. This might sound like the least likely place to start given the past few years, but hear me out.
Having all political parties across the spectrum agree on a regulation and investment framework to double exports would be a game-changer. No more sudden rule changes after elections, and imagine the progress we could make with guaranteed priorities and investments alongside government.
To gently nudge the politicians through this gate, though, we first need to lock in the fundamentals of what the sector wants to achieve. What priorities can everyone, across all of our industries, agree on? Sure, there will be plenty of matters where we don’t agree (and shouldn’t). But by focusing on the shared goals (such as water quality, emissions and biodiversity), we can make agriculture one of those “bigger than politics” issues.
The second pillar we need for a strong team is a step-change in how we invest in future leaders. Technology is going to help to double exports – no doubt about it – but it will be people who drive that change. People who intuitively understand technology and millennial and Generation Z value sets. Tomorrow’s leaders.
A Path to Realising Leadership Potential in Aotearoa NZ’s Food and Fibre Sector, by Rural Leaders and the Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (FFCoVE), sets out a principles-centred approach for leadership in the sector, allowing us to foster high-performing teams capable of successfully doubling exports.
I love this wisdom from Ta Tipene O’Regan (Ngai Tahu) on the difference between “future takers” and “future makers”. Future takers, he says, “accept the future for what it is, feeling powerless to change what will be, and allowing today’s realities to obscure tomorrow’s potential”.
Future makers, on the other hand, “shape the future by reading the signs, determined to create future spaces for people to excel, undaunted by today’s problems, and ready to lead change”. We need future makers now.
The third bit is a tired record these days, but that doesn’t make it wrong. A focus on genuinely collaborating with each other, building on existing foundations. It’s pretty straightforward – we’re not going to succeed unless we work together.
It’s about realising that collaboration around an ambitious future is the only way to tackle this beast of a strategy. And yes, we might bump into a few challenges along the way, but with the right high-performing teams, the right leadership ecosystem and clear areas of agreement (and disagreement), we’ll manage.
Finally, let’s not forget who we’re doing this for – the consumer, our global oyster. Sure, doubling our exports sounds great, but even then, we won’t be feeding the whole world. Instead, we need to focus on a strategy that provides value to both our global consumers and New Zealanders at home with affordable, healthy food. Domestic food security must be a clear part of any future strategy.
Staying stuck in our ways won’t cut it. We need to anticipate what our global consumers want before they even know it themselves. We’ve got the potential to offer the best of the best. The world really is our oyster – it’s just up to us to deliver.
In the end, realising our ambition to double exports will be a team effort. If we can nail multipartisanship, nurture strong leadership, foster greater collaboration, and stay laser-focused on our consumers, we’ve got a real shot at making this strategy work. And who knows, maybe we’ll even enjoy the ride along the way.
Disclaimer – the thoughts and opinions shared here are my own and don’t represent anyone else, including any organisations or groups I’m connected with. They’re based on my personal perspectives and experiences.
Kate Scott has over 20 years’ experience working across the Food & Fibre Sector, as an Environmental Consultant, business owner, Nuffield Scholar, and proud supporter of the food and fibre sector. Kate enjoys a free-range lifestyle with her family on their Bannockburn Vineyard.
Ideas That Grow Podcast | Developing leaders in the food and fibre sector
