New Zealand's 2010 Agri Business and Agri Personality named

Federated Farmers, in association with Ravensdown, held agriculture’s second Cream of the Crop awards as part of its 2010 National Conference in Invercargill.

“Federated Farmers was delighted to have the support of Ravensdown for the 2010 awards,” says Don Nicolson, Federated Farmers President.

The Agri Business Person for 2010 is Graeme Harrison, the Wellington based founder and Chairman of ANZCO Foods limited. Graeme created ANZCO foods in Japan in 1984, returning to New Zealand nine years later to lead the company’s subsequent growth. Today, ANZCO has annual sales of more than $1.2 billion and employs 2,800 people on 11 production sites within New Zealand and has sales and marketing offices in Japan, Taiwan, North America, the UK and Belgium. Graeme’s vision for the future has been key in ensuring ANZCO’s past and future success and this is evident in the company’s ongoing focus in increasing investment in downstream manufacturing. This includes food solutions, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and food flavourings. Right through the process of ANZCO’s growth as a company, Graeme has shown leadership, vision and innovation and this has ensured that the business has been extremely successful.

The Agri Personality for 2010 is Roger Beattie of Banks Peninsula. Roger Beattie is an eco-anarchist combining conservation with business acumen. Roger is passionate about endangered species, but believes commercial farming is a better model for long term survival. His interview on Close-Up with DoC’s Al Morrison of the status quo versus farming weka, saw 83 percent of viewers side with Roger. Roger has also rescued a flock of wild Pitt Island sheep with a plan to selling them as a gourmet food product. His latest victory against bureaucracy is the commercialisation of Undaria – an invasive Japanese kelp used in soups and salads overseas. After a ten year fight he finally got the greenlight to start an industry that, in five years could be worth $10 million a year. Roger is also the force behind Eyris Blue Pearls – Paua Pearls – exported around the world. He is a deserved winner of Federated Farmers 2010 Agri personality of the year

“Ravensdown’s input as sponsor and in providing Chairman Bill McLeod as a judge was instrumental in ensuring we had a strong agri-business perspective on the judging panel.

“Our other judges included, charismatic Invercargill Mayor, Tim Shadbolt as well as farming and All Blacks legend, Sir Brian Lochore of Masterton. Cathy Quinn, the Auckland based chair of law firm, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts and 2010 Veuve Clicquot businesswoman of the year was also joined by Southland super-coach, Robyn Broughton.

“The candidates this year were of an exceptional calibre and included Fonterra’s Chief Executive, Andrew Ferrier, Massey University’s Associate Professor in Farm and Agribusiness management, Nicola Shadbolt, Managing director of CRS software, Brian Eccles, the Brownrigg Brothers from Brownrigg Agriculture and Managing Director of Farmworks Precision Farming Systems, Colin McFadzean.

“Federated Farmers Cream of the Crop awards gives us a real opportunity to celebrate just how good we farmers are,” Mr Nicolson concluded.