Youth voices sought to shape the future of agriculture in Aoteoroa

Attracting and retaining youth to the food and fibre sector is the aim for He Tatai Rangahua – Food and Fibre Youth Network at Fieldays this year.

The organisation provides opportunities for young people to participate in the development and success of the food and fibre sector.

He Tātai Rangahua council member, Jesse Brennan, said their goal at Fieldays is to bring people in and amplify the importance of youth voice in the sector, and raise awareness of the network to the wider rural and community.

“It’s all about creating opportunities for youth, for rangatahi in the food and fibre sector to influence and engage with it.”

The network wants to give youth a voice to share ideas, discuss solutions and advocate for changes at a national level in order to shape a better agricultural future in New Zealand.

The network’s stand is in the newly formed Fieldays Rural Advocacy Hub alongside bigger groups Federated Farmers, Young Farmers and Rural Women.

The advocacy hub aims to be a central platform to amplify the voices and concerns of the countries farmers and rural communities. Described as ‘a place for farmers to come and discuss the issues affecting the future of farming in New Zealand’, it has a line up of MP’s visiting over the four days.

Brennan hopes to raise the profile of He Tatai Ragahua– Food and Fibre Network to the community, and sign up more people to be part of the conversation.

The network was established in May 2021 and Brennan said it now has 300 members across New Zealand from Food and Fibre sector, people in farms, agriculture, food technology and others in the rural sector.

More information about The Food and Fibre Youth Network – He Tātai Rangahua can be found here.