The programme, Rabobank FoodX, is a series of events to expose young people to animals, food production and marketing, agribusiness and science.
Rabobank NZ general manager Hayley Gourley said the programme addresses the shortage of young people in the primary sector.
“We recognise there is a shortage of young people coming into the agricultural sector so we looked at how we could play our part in connecting people with industry and promote agriculture to young people as a career option.”
It will be attended by 30 years 12 and 13 students from a dozen urban Canterbury high schools who will visit a range of rural businesses including Rakaia Island, Synlait, Gladfield Malt, Hellers and the Lincoln University dairy farm.
“We’re hoping the students walk away with enthusiasm for agriculture and hopefully talk to their friends about it as well as asking their teachers why agriculture isn’t a subject they can study at school.
“Many of the students I speak to say agriculture isn’t available in their school or that it’s available only by correspondence so seeing that become part of the NZ curriculum would be a good outcome in the long-term,” she said.
The four-day programme will go some way to bridge the divide between rural and urban audiences and change perceptions on careers in agriculture.
“The aim is to raise awareness of the huge range of exciting careers in the primary sector, their importance to NZ and encourage young people to consider a career in this broad field.”
The primary sector, while still a major part of the economy, faces big challenges in attracting enough young people. By 2025 it will need 50,000 more people and about half of them will require a level 4 or higher NCEA qualification.
Rabobank FoodX will also help change the views of secondary school teachers, some of whom have not always been supportive of agriculture as a career path for students, Gourley said.
“We need people with passion.
“We need to make sure we have people entering the industry with the next bright ideas, who want to lead the primary industries going forward. We have a small role to play but I believe we can contribute to those outcomes.”
Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith said the primary industry was all about people and provides great opportunities.
“The moment you’re immersed in the sector you love it.
“It gets in your blood.
“NZ’s food and fibre is a great industry to be a part of.
“For some young people it may be studying agri-commerce at university and for others it may be getting out on-farm but NZ Young Farmers hopes to support that journey from initial interest to being involved.
“We want to excite young people and connect them to the opportunities available.”
Seventeen-year-old Amber Campbell from Burnside High School is attending Rabobank FoodX. It piqued her interest because it supports some of her subjects.
“We’ve recently been looking into food and security so I wanted to deepen my understanding of that,” Campbell said.
“And, as someone who’s from the city, it’s not often we get an opportunity to learn about the rural sector.
“I hope to find out more about what it has to offer.”
