In his final week, B+LNZ and NZMB chief executive Sam McIvor reflects on 17 years with the organisation and valuable lessons learned over the last eight years as CEO. He is set to embark on his new role as chief executive at OSPRI soon.
This is the last time you’ll hear from me as CEO of B+LNZ and the NZ Meat Board after eight years. It has been a real privilege to serve farmers and it’s been an eventful time. Reflecting on recent years, we’ve seen significant developments both within our organisations and across our industry.
Highlights for me include the Red Meat Profit Partnership, a key catalyst in fostering greater industry collaboration, the launch of Taste Pure Nature, the NZ Farm Assurance Programme and NZFAP+.
We have navigated global shifts like Brexit and secured significant FTAs through the CPTPP, and with the UK and the EU. China’s emergence as a key export market has been notable, bringing positives and challenges.
We have contended with COVID -19, M. bovis, and the biggest policy reform in 30 years, dominated by the environment.
We’ve seen the highest sheep and beef returns in 40 years followed rapidly by the lowest returns in 20 years.
B+LNZ has undertaken a significant uplift in research and innovation investment, genetics and extension efforts, and increased integration with the dairy industry. We have navigated through repeated reform across research and industry training, all while building greater collaboration across primary industry organisations.
During my time I have had the privilege of helping to shape two B+LNZ strategies, a Red Meat Sector Strategy, a sector environment strategy and validating our low carbon footprint and biodiversity benefits – it’s been quite a ride!
I’ve worked for B+LNZ for 17 years in two stints since the late 90s, initially spending nine years in extension and R&D. It’s really hard to sum up that amount of time but here are some reflections, particularly focused on the last eight years as CEO:
- We have been through a lot of change – the change will continue and how we as a sector anticipate, prepare, and respond to it will be critical to success.
- The industry should seek to determine its own destiny, leading it is preferable to it being dictated by others.
- We’ve made tremendous progress with greater collaboration across the industry value chain, but it will need to get better.
- We need to take the next leap in productivity - I believe it’s possible. Farmer-led and -driven initiatives can give us this.
- Genetics has been absolutely transformational in our sheep industry and needs to continue at pace. Our beef and dairy beef genetics utilisation needs a step up.
- “Nature positive”: the interaction of climate change, biodiversity, soil and water will dominate our production and market environment over the next ten years. The industry is well positioned in this regard – but we need to invest in better measurement and validation to provide assurance to customers and other stakeholders.
- Technology and data, including Artificial Intelligence, offer tremendous opportunities and the sector must embrace them.
- Tenacity on trade will be critical. Extracting full value from FTAs and removal of non-tariff barriers still offer real value – keeping the Government accountable and our active involvement and influence in international trade conversations is key.
- Being clear as a sector about how we want to position ourselves, how we want to feel about ourselves, how we want others to see us and then following that up with the right behaviours.
- We should be taking every opportunity to celebrate success and encourage each other to continue excelling in what we do and getting behind our emerging leaders. Our camaraderie and sharing as a sector set us apart internationally – so keep doing it.
Thanks for the opportunity to work with you all. The most enjoyable part of my job has been on-farm, face-to-face in the regions witnessing you as farmers demonstrating world class farming. It’s an industry I’m extremely proud of and I remain committed to its success.
I acknowledge it’s tough times right now, but I’m absolutely confident the sector has a vibrant future. B+LNZ has a critical role to play with you, and on your behalf to nail the points noted above. The team is massively committed and competent and while it was a tough decision to leave, I’m confident the next leader will take the organisation a step up in delivering value and impact.
I look forward to continuing the relationships as I transfer to OSPRI from 1 August and I encourage you to take the next few days weeks to get your NAIT records straight!
Kind regards
Sam