Biological farming in New Zealand

The New Zealand Kellogg Rural Leaders Programme develops emerging agribusiness leaders to help shape the future of New Zealand agribusiness and rural affairs. Lincoln University has been involved with this leaders programme since 1979 when it was launched with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, USA.This paper discusses the principles, outcomes and benefits of\ud biological farming in New Zealand. New Zealand agriculture is at\ud present extremely reliant on petrochemical based fertiliser and\ud chemicals to produce commodities. Biological agriculture is about\ud increasing efficiency, productivity and profitability by working with a\ud natural system rather than against it. Agricultural produce in New\ud Zealand is inextricably linked to the health and viability of the human\ud population it serves. We are what we eat and this ultimately comes\ud from the health of the soil where our food is grown. This paper\ud discusses soil, plant, microbe, animal and human health and\ud highlights how critical it is that we look to the health of our soil to\ud support New Zealand agriculture and human health into the future