Published on 07/12/2022
That’s according to Richard Brenton-Rule, country manager for Corteva AgriScience.
He’s stoked NZ has for the first time this year been invited to participate in Corteva’s world-wide Climate Positive Leaders Programme and nothing would make him happier than to have Kiwi farmers and growers take out the top slots for the award’s Asia-Pacific region.
“We’d love to see NZ sweep the APAC zone! We know there are plenty of examples of potentially world-leading climate positive initiatives happening all over the country, and we want those producers to receive the recognition they deserve.”
Corteva launched the nomination-based Climate Positive Leaders Programme in 2020 to reward and recognise farmers around the world working to offset carbon emissions and protect the environment while sustaining their land and families.
Last year, nine winners and six runners-up were chosen from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Kenya, each adopting innovative systems and approaches that uniquely support their productivity goals while protecting their land and water.
As well as NZ, this year the award’s APAC region covers India and Australia, with two winners and two runners-up to be awarded to applicants across these three countries. Nominations for 2022 are also being sought from France, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil, Ireland, Spain, the United States, Canada and Kenya.
Brenton-Rule says being part of the Climate Positive Leaders Programme supports Corteva NZ’s commitment to the company’s global climate and sustainability objectives.
Eligible nominees are experienced in implementing climate positive practices, have helped others along the way, and are passionate about leading by sharing their journey.
Under the rules, Corteva NZ can itself nominate local producers for the programme, but peak industry organisations like Beef+Lamb NZ, DairyNZ, Foundation for Arable Research and HortNZ will have the best overview of likely contenders, Brenton-Rule says.
Winners will each receive lifetime membership of the Global Farmer Network; leadership and communications training; and soils sampling, carbon sequestration measurement and guidance from Ohio University’s Dr Rattan Lal and the team at the Centre for Carbon Management and Sequestration.
Global winners also travel expenses paid to a Global Farmers Network Roundtable, at avenue yet to be finalised.
Importantly, Brenton-Rule says, they will gain access to a global platform to share their experiences and advocate for climate positive practices, as well as the opportunity to engage with business, research, agronomy and agriculture leaders from other parts of the world.
Nominations for the 2022 Climate Positive Leaders Programme close 30 November.
For more detail, contact your Corteva territory sales manager.