25 February 2000 Lincoln Names New Farm Management & Agribusiness Professor

A senior academic in Australia, and a key figure in the development of that country's deer industry, is returning home to New Zealand to become Lincoln University's Professor of Farm Management and Agribusiness.

Wellington-born Keith Woodford, currently Associate Professor and Reader in Rural Management and Agribusiness at the University of Queensland, Gatton College, and a doctoral graduate of that university, becomes only the fourth Professor of Farm Management at Lincoln since the chair was established in 1965.

Professor Woodford's appointment coincides with growing optimism for New Zealand export-based agribusinesses, says Lincoln's Vice-Chancellor, Dr Frank Wood.

"A combination of lower exchange rates and strengthened demand augur well for the medium term future," he says. "The impetus this will provide to value-adding enterprises and increasing growth in sophisticated international consumer markets will create longer term benefits and employment opportunities."

For the new professor it is a case of life coming full circle as he began his career with two degrees in agricultural science from Lincoln University and as a young graduate held research and lecturing posts there, following three years with MAF.

Since 1983, however, he has been Queensland-based from where, along with contributing to rural management and agribusiness education and research in Australia, he has built up an international reputation through advisory and consultancy work in many parts of the world.

For example, in 1992 he led Australian deer industry market investigations through both Asia and Europe; and over 1994-97 he was director of a programme advising the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on the redevelopment of a major school of agriculture.

On the teaching side Professor Woodford has had extensive involvement with curriculum development both at the University of Queensland and in developing countries. For example, at the University of Vudal in Papua New Guinea he is currently team leader for a NZODA project that includes development of a four-year degree in tropical agriculture, focusing on rural business and agribusiness.

In 1999 he worked as a consultant for the Asian Development Bank on management and commerce teaching in Sri Lanka.

In his research Professor Woodford has had a long interest in industry-based work relating to deer, and more recently antelope, in tropical and sub-tropical environments. In this field he has been an industrious producer of field day addresses, publications and conference presentations and book chapters.

He is also interested in transdisciplinary research and has investigated alternative methods of aid delivery on behalf of AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development.

Outside of academic life, Professor Woodford was leader of the New Zealand Everest Expedition to Nepal in 1977 and led the Commonwealth Andean Expedition in 1974. Over 1979-80 he was in the Antarctic for the then DSIR training field scientists in survival techniques, search and rescue and the field management of scientific parties.

In accepting the Lincoln position Professor Woodford said he was particularly excited at the opportunity to bring together the traditional Lincoln strength in farm management and the more recently developed strength in agribusiness.

"New Zealand's primary industries have become high knowledge industries that require young graduates with advanced skills in management and technology," he says.

"One of the challenges the industries face is to better link farm production and management into the agribusiness value chain.

"Too often people see agriculture and horticulture as industries of the past rather than the future."

Professor Woodford said that New Zealand's primary industries will continue to face many challenges, but an exciting future lay ahead.

"It is important that young people recognise the career opportunities that exist for well-trained graduates."

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand