Northland Inc wins EDNZ best practice Award for farming extension programme
Northland Inc has won a top honour at the 2018 Economic Development NZ Awards with Extension 350, a farmer-led farmer-focused extension project that aims to lift profitability, environmental sustainability, and wellbeing on Northland farms.
The Best Practice in Sustainable Development Award was presented at the 2018 Economic Development NZ (EDNZ) Annual Conference Gala Dinner on Thursday (October 18) in the Bay of Islands. The Awards celebrate best practice in economic development activity throughout New Zealand.
Northland Inc also won the Best Practice in Inward Investment Award for its work with the 15,000km super fibre-optic Hawaiki Cable project, which connects New Zealand with Australia, mainland United States, Hawaii and the Pacific.
Extension 350 Project Lead Luke Beehre said the sustainability development award acknowledges the farmers that are involved in the project, “and in particular the target farmers who have opened their farm businesses up for scrutiny”.
The project started in November 2016, and over five years will involve 350 farmers throughout Northland. Mr Beehre said the concept involves mentor farmers and farm consultants working with target farmers to make improvements to their farm business. The target farmers then share what they have learned with associate farmers.
“We’re seeing great results in the three key areas of profitability, environmental sustainability and wellbeing on the individual farms and we are now starting to see that this project has the potential to transform Northland’s agricultural sector,” said Mr Beehre.
CEO of EDNZ Susan Houston said Economic Development NZ's Awards Committee considered the 'Extension 350' project to be a best practice example of sustainable development.
“Extension 350 is a smart and savvy use of land that will have beneficial economic and environmental ramifications for present and future Northlanders,” she said. “Extension 350 could just as easily have been considered for the Innovation Award since it is breaking new ground, not just for Northland but also for New Zealand.”
Extension 350 is supported by Northland Inc and funded by DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Northland Regional Council, and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). E350 is a project within the Northland Tai Tokerau Economic Action Plan.
For further information please contact:
Luke Beehre, luke.beehre@northlandnz.com, P(09) 438 5062, M 027 544 7839
Northland Inc
Northland Inc is Northland’s Economic Development Agency and incorporates the Regional Tourism Organisation.
Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan
Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan brings together more than 60 projects that together are driving the transformation of Northland’s economy.
Economic Development NZ Awards
The Economic Development NZ Awards celebrate best practice throughout New Zealand across the following economic development activities:
- Integrated, strategic planning
- Promotion of Innovation
- Collaboration with Business, Iwi, Community
- Inward investment attraction
- Sustainable Development
- Primary research that contributes to best practice