Posts Tagged ‘Upcoming Events’

Lincoln University (LU), in partnership with Selwyn District Council (SDC), invites you to a one-day symposium exploring the future of food, fibre and agri-tech on Tuesday 31 March, 9.00am–2.30pm, in Waimarie at Lincoln University.

Food and fibre sit at the heart of Selwyn’s economy — but the sector is navigating a period of profound change. Climate pressures, tightening environmental limits, market volatility and shifting consumer expectations are reshaping how we produce and add value. At the same time, advances in agri-tech, biotechnology, low-emissions solutions and alternative land-use systems are unlocking new pathways to productivity, resilience and premium positioning. The challenge — and opportunity — lies in turning innovation into practical, profitable and sustainable outcomes for farms and businesses.

This dynamic symposium will bring together researchers, producers, technology innovators and industry leaders to explore what that future looks like in practice. The programme features keynote sessions on future food systems and emerging agri-tech, alongside regional farming and food entrepreneurs who are already adapting and innovating on the ground.

An interactive workshop will create space for meaningful discussion, cross-sector collaboration and shared problem-solving — connecting research with real-world application and identifying tangible next steps for the region.

Join us for a day of insight, connection and forward-thinking conversation as we explore how Selwyn — and New Zealand — can position its food and fibre sector for long-term success in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Tuesday 31 March
9.00am – 2.30pm
Waimarie Building, Lincoln University

 Agenda

Opening | 9.00am–9.35am

9.00am – Welcome & Introductions
9.05am – Overview of the SDC Food & Fibre Project
An introduction to the SDC Food & Fibre project, providing context for the day’s discussions. This session will outline the drivers shaping the sector — from changing consumer expectations and sustainability pressures to technology disruption and evolving market demands — and frame the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Session 1: Future Foods | 9.35am–10.50am

Session Overview
This session explores how food producers are responding to rapidly shifting market expectations. From premium positioning and diversification to regenerative practices and value-add innovation, our speakers will share real-world examples of how they are adapting their businesses to meet the demands of future consumers while maintaining commercial viability.

9.35am – Keynote Speaker: Jolon Dyer, BSI
Brief: Jolon brings a strategic perspective on food assurance, standards, and global market access. Drawing on his experience with BSI, he will discuss how quality frameworks, traceability and sustainability credentials are shaping competitive advantage in international markets.

9.55am – Keynote Speaker: Hamish Guild, High Peak Station
Brief: Drawing on his experience at High Peak Station, Hamish will share practical insights into running a high-country farming operation grounded in environmental stewardship and thoughtful diversification. He will explore how profitability, land care, brand story, and long-term resilience can work together — and what that balance looks like in practice.

10.15am – Keynote Speaker: Phil Caunter, Melton Estate
Brief: Phil will share the Melton Estate journey — from establishment to growth — outlining the opportunities, setbacks and lessons learned along the way. His story highlights the realities of building a differentiated food and beverage brand in a competitive landscape.

10.35am – Session Summary & Q&A
A facilitated discussion drawing together common themes from the speakers, followed by audience questions and shared reflections.

10.50am – Morning Break

Workshop | 11.05am–12.35pm

Workshop Overview
Participants will break into facilitated groups to explore key questions emerging from the morning session. The workshop is designed to encourage practical thinking: what does “future foods” mean in your context and what actions or partnerships are needed to get there?

11.05am – Group Discussions
Interactive discussions focused on opportunity identification, barriers to innovation, and collaborative solutions.

12.05pm – Group Summaries
Each group will share key insights, challenges, and proposed next steps with the wider audience.

12.35pm – Lunch Break

Session 2: Developing Agri-tech | 1.25pm–2.20pm

Session Overview
The afternoon session shifts focus to the technologies reshaping agriculture. From biotechnology and emissions reduction to precision livestock management and digital tools, this session explores how disruptive innovation can enhance productivity, sustainability and sector resilience.

1.25pm – Keynote Speaker: Ruth Leary, AgriZero
Brief: Ruth will set the scene by outlining the major emissions and sustainability challenges facing the sector and the technologies being developed to address them. This presentation will provide insight into methane reduction tools, biotech solutions and the pathway to low-emissions farming systems.

1.40pm – Keynote Speaker: TBC

1.55pm – Keynote Speaker: Dugald Hamilton, RespondBio
Brief: Dugald will showcase RespondBio’s groundbreaking work in soil rehabilitation and nitrogen reduction. He’ll explore how these innovations—and other emerging digital solutions—are reshaping agriculture for greater productivity, sustainability, and resilience.

2.10pm – Session Summary & Q&A
2.30pm – Event Close

About Our Speakers

Jolon Dyer has more than 18 years’ experience in various roles focused on people and science leadership, including the roles of Science Group Leader (Food & Bio-Based Products) and Associate Research Director, Capability at AgResearch. Jolon has also gained significant national and international recognition for his science achievements, specialising in the development of redox proteomics approaches to understanding and controlling protein modification and damage.

Hamish Guild is a Canterbury sheep and deer farmer who grew up on and now operates High Peak Station, a 3,800-hectare, multi-generational farm at Rakaia Gorge. Alongside his brother Simon, he was named a 2024 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing, focusing on diversified, eco-friendly farming including venison, velvet, and tourism.

Phil Caunter is the owner of Melton Estate, a boutique winery, restaurant, and events venue in West Melton, Canterbury. With more than 30 years’ experience in international business development, Phil has built Melton Estate into a well-known regional destination for wine, dining, weddings, and celebrations. Under his leadership, the vineyard has gained recognition for its premium wines, including the popular Summer Love Sparkling, while contributing to Selwyn’s growing reputation for hospitality and tourism.

Heading the Strategy & Engagement function at AgriZeroNZ. AgriZeroNZ is a world-first public-private joint venture focused on helping farmers reduce emissions while maintaining their competitive edge. The JV is half owned by the New Zealand government through the Ministry for Primary Industries and the other half owned by The a2 Milk Company, ANZ Bank New Zealand, ANZCO, ASB Bank, BNZ, Fonterra, Rabobank, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms and Synlait.
AgriZeroNZ’s ambition is to ensure all farmers in Aotearoa New Zealand have equitable access to affordable, effective solutions to reduce biogenic methane and nitrous oxides emissions.

Dugald Hamilton is the founder and CEO of RespondBio, a biotechnology company developing innovative biological solutions for agriculture and environmental management. With a background in science and agribusiness, Dugald focuses on translating cutting-edge microbial research into practical tools that support more sustainable and resilient farming systems. Through RespondBio, he works closely with researchers, industry partners, and farmers to bring next-generation biological technologies from the lab to real-world application.

We’re excited to continue the Bioeconomy Series with our next event on Wednesday 18 March, turning our focus to the powerful technologies that help us see systems at radically different scales — from the nanoscale world inside materials and organisms, to entire landscapes viewed through advanced visualisation tools.

This session explores how cutting-edge imaging and data technologies are transforming the way we understand biological, environmental, and production systems. What can we learn when we zoom right in — and how do those insights connect with what we see when we zoom right out?

Duane Harland (Bioeconomy Science Institute) will take us deep into the world of advanced microscopy, showcasing the detailed technical capability and expertise housed within Bioeconomy Science Institute. Using real-world examples from across the science spectrum, Duane will explore different modes of electron microscopy imaging, alongside the challenges and opportunities of big-data image analysis. His talk will highlight how the latest instrumentation is pushing the boundaries of what can be observed, measured, and understood at the smallest scales.

Balancing this microscopic perspective, Assoc. Prof. Stuart Charters (Lincoln University) will shift the lens to the landscape level, discussing advanced technologies for large-scale visualisation. His contribution will explore how spatial data, modelling, and visual tools help us interpret complex systems across farms, catchments, and regions — and how these approaches support better decision-making in land, environment, and resource management.

Together, the speakers will connect insights across scales, demonstrating how advanced visualisation technologies — from electrons to ecosystems — are reshaping research, innovation, and our understanding of complex bioeconomic systems.

Join us for an engaging session that bridges the micro and the macro, and discover how seeing differently can lead to smarter, more integrated science.

Wednesday 18th March 2026
1.00pm-2.30pm
Inaka, Waimarie Building, Lincoln University

Timings

1:00 – 1:10 pm | Welcome and introductions

1:10 – 1:25 pm | Presentation 1 – Dr. Duane Harland, Bioeconomy Science Institute

1:25 – 1:40 pm | Presentation 2 – Assoc. Prof. Stuart Charters, Lincoln University

1:40 – 2:10 pm | Moderated discussion and audience Q&A

2:10 – 2:30 pm | Networking

About Our Speakers

My research focus is on the intersection of technology, agriculture and ecology which we term, computational agroecology and also on the human aspects of computing, including Software Engineering, Visualisation and eResearch. I investigate how humans engage and interact with this technology. My research includes both the design and deployment of technology for deployment in the environment and on farm; presentation of data and information for consumption (mobile web and interactive visualisation, evidence based software engineering) and the processes around human engagement (eResearch and Evidence Based Software Engineering). The ability for people to effectively engage with technology and interpret data is essential for technology adoption and effective data based decision-making. My work in Evidence based Software Engineering improves the quality of research reporting, and provides methods and tools to allow research evidence to be assessed to understand the impact on practice or policy. I work collaboratively with colleagues in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. I was previously seconded to be the Director, SIGNAL ICT Graduate School, which focused on growing and developing tech professionals for New Zealand.

Dr. Duane Harland, Bioeconomy Science Institute

Dr Duane Harland is a senior scientist internationally recognised for advancing microscopy and microanalysis in biological and biomaterial research. His career spans the design of bespoke optical instruments for arthropod sensory studies through to world-leading electron microscopy of keratin and fibre systems. He has led major discoveries in nano-filament architecture, helical twist, and structure–property relationships in wool and human hair, enabled by innovative sample preparation and cutting-edge imaging approaches. Current work focuses on implementing these science discoveries into next-generation fibrous protein bio-based materials across several MBIE programmes.

Through his long service in Microscopy NZ, including two terms as president, he has helped build and mentor a vibrant national microanalysis community. Dr Harland leads a strong local imaging capability at the Bioeconomy Science Institute’s Tuhiraki facility in Lincoln, which employs a range of light, electron, and synchrotron-based imaging and spectroscopic capabilities into research and development in primary sector science, food, microbiology and bioprocessing.

Land is the foundation of communities, economies, and environmental health in New Zealand, yet rapid growth, changing demographics, and evolving land-use pressures are reshaping how land is managed and developed. Decisions about urban expansion, rural development, and economic growth are becoming increasingly complex, interconnected, and consequential.

At the forefront of navigating these challenges is Selwyn District Council, which works to balance growth, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship across one of the fastest-growing regions in Aotearoa. In this Vibe session, Mayor Lydia Gliddon, representing Selwyn District Council, will share insights from their work in planning, policy, and local economic development. She will explore how Selwyn is responding to land-use pressures, supporting sustainable growth, and fostering resilient communities, drawing on research, projects, and real-world experience.

Join us for an engaging conversation on land growth, economic development, and the choices shaping the future of Selwyn, and discover how evidence-led planning and innovative approaches can help balance community, environmental, and economic outcomes.

Tuesday 24th March 2026
4.00pm-5.30pm
Stewart Lecture Theatre, Lincoln University

Timings

4:00pm – Arrival and networking

4:10pm – Welcome from Prof. Chad Hewitt, Provost, Lincoln University

4:15pm – Overview on what LU is doing in this space

4:20pm – Keynote presentation – Mayor Lydia Gliddon

4:45pm – Q&A

5:00pm – Networking

5:30pm – Event concludes

About Our Speaker

Lydia Gliddon is Mayor of Selwyn District, bringing a strong focus on community wellbeing, sustainable growth, and strategic leadership to one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions. A long-time Selwyn resident, she is committed to ensuring the district’s rapid development is matched by thoughtful infrastructure planning, environmental stewardship, and vibrant local communities.

As Mayor, Lydia works closely with iwi, businesses, community organisations, and central government to support economic resilience and enhance quality of life across the district. She is a passionate advocate for collaboration, innovation, and practical solutions that enable Selwyn to thrive now and into the future.