2 minute read
Product & Services Directory
Source: Our Land and Water – ourlandandwater.nz
Advertisement
THE WAY FORWARD: FOOD DIRECT FROM THE FARMER
Urban respondents clearly viewed buying food direct as the “best way to support farmers”.
At 29 percent, purchasing food direct from the farm was ranked as the most effective sustainable food action customers could take, followed by buying New Zealand grown food at 21 percent.
Whether through farmers’ markets, online direct sales, roadside stalls or small shops, respondents associated direct-from-the-farm food with quality, community benefits and supporting farmer’s environmental practices on the land. Logistics and convenience were cited as their main barrier to more direct-from-thefarm food, but not price – reflecting a recent study from Farmer’s Markets New Zealand showing 80 percent of like-for-like shopping baskets were cheaper at a farmer’s market than the local supermarket.
Dr Turner said the research “signals an opportunity for farmers to find support and funding for sustainable farming, through direct-to-citizen food systems”.
“But we need to recognise that selling direct is currently challenging because our food system is set up for mass production and big retailers. While it is encouraging to see such alignment between farmers and wider society on what sustainable farming looks like, we need relatively significant structural changes to our system to help farmers realise the benefits of this closer connection.”
Our Land and Water is one of 11 MBIEfunded National Science Challenges taking a more strategic approach to science investment by targeting a series of goals that, if achieved, would have major and enduring benefits for New Zealand.
For Our Land and Water this means tackling the biggest science-based issues and opportunities facing New Zealand’s primary sector. Our Land and Water’s vision is a future in which catchments contain mosaics of land uses that are more resilient, healthy, and prosperous than they are today; a future where all New Zealanders can be proud of the state of our land and water and share value from them.
ABOUT OPEN FARMS
Open Farms is a platform to reconnect Kiwis with the people and places that grow our food. It’s a grassroots, nationwide initiative encouraging farmers from all sectors to host Open Farm day experiences. The platform provides farmers with event guidance, visitor marketing, registration support, and connects visitors to Open Farm days via a booking system. The platform is independently run, with 2021 sponsor support from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund.
For more information on Our Land and Water visit: ourlandandwater.nz For more information on Open Farms visit: www.openfarms.co.nz
