Management update from our arable producer contributors
New Zealand hosted the International Nuffield Conference, with a central theme of World Agriculture in 2050, on Feb 26.
Keynote speaker was Robert Thompson, Gardner chair in agricultural policy at the University of Illinois, chairman of the US International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council, and senior fellow at the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy in Washington – I don”t know what he does in his spare time.
He predicts more than half of the world”s population will be living in cities in a few years” time, so we will forever be a planet more urban than rural. Based on the projected growth in population, food production will have to double by 2050 and competition for productive soils and water availability will be fierce.
Asia, for example, will struggle to be self-sufficient, with 53% of the population and only 29% of the land. Prof Thompson made it clear world agriculture faces many challenges and the most important skills of the successful farmer of the future will be financial and risk management, along with marketing skills.
How refreshing to hear someone speak with long-term confidence in the future of this industry, albeit on a world scale. No doubt some countries will benefit more than others in the long term.
It is feeling quite autumnal now as March draws to a close. With less evening daylight and the salmon fishing season closing at the end of April, I didn”t hesitate to take a neighbour”s offer of a jet boat trip up the Rakaia in search of elusive Chinook salmon.
After finding a deep pool where the fish were likely to be resting, it took just two casts and, bang, I was into a salmon. Twenty thrilling minutes later I had the 14lb fish landed, turning a dream into reality.