15 June 2010 Wine lesson at Lincoln for visiting Mexican Minister and delegation

Mexico’s Secretary (Minister) of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, Francisco Javier Mayorga Castaneda, opened a five-day official visit to New Zealand with an afternoon at Lincoln University today. (15 June).

At Lincoln University the Secretary and his group heard about innovative animal and soil science work, visited the dairy farm and also the University’s vineyard and winery, where they were given a short lesson in analysing a New Zealand Sauvignon blanc by wine scientist Sue Blackmore.

Accompanied by a delegation of Mexican Government officials and agricultural industry representatives, the Secretary said the aims of the New Zealand visit included exploring how research and development was tied in to agricultural production and learning how New Zealand agriculture has progressed without government subsidies.

“In Mexico we are realising that subsidies are not necessarily leading to improvements in agriculture,” he said.

The Secretary took a moment out from agricultural and viticultural matters to acknowledge the excitement for both Mexico and New Zealand of the World Cup football tournament.

“With New Zealand and Paraguay in the same group, I support Paraguay but I also have to support New Zealand, so I wish both teams equal fortune, perhaps a result like Mexico’s in the opening game (a draw),” said the Secretary diplomatically about the All Whites scheduled match with the South American team on 25 June.