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06 May 2025 Navigating Climate Challenges: Balancing Sustainability and Agricultural Productivity

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Date6th May 2025Lincoln University

Join us for an engaging discussion on the future of sustainable farming in Aotearoa—where innovation meets practicality, and where agriculture and the environment can thrive together.

About

How can New Zealand’s agriculture sector adapt to the realities of climate change while maintaining productivity, profitability, and global competitiveness?

New Zealand’s agricultural industry is at a crossroads. As climate pressures intensify and global markets demand greater sustainability, farmers and agribusinesses must navigate complex challenges—from reducing carbon emissions and improving water management to enhancing biodiversity and adapting to shifting weather patterns. Achieving a balance between productivity and environmental responsibility is no small feat, but it is critical for the future of our food systems, economy, and natural ecosystems.

Join us for this event where we explore the factors that are shaping a more resilient agricultural sector. We’ll discuss the latest advancements in carbon mitigation, regenerative farming, and climate adaptation strategies, as well as the role of technology and collaboration in driving meaningful change.

Join us for an engaging discussion on the future of sustainable farming in Aotearoa—where innovation meets practicality, and where agriculture and the environment can thrive together.

This event is in partnership with The Lincoln University Institute of Kāika Climate Resilience, a research initiative, focusing on integrating social science and Mātauraka (whakapapa-framed knowledge) to enhance community resilience against climate change.

Tuesday 6th May

9.00am - 1.00pm

Memorial Hall, Lincoln University

Programme

9.00am: Welcome
Opening remarks to set the stage for a day of insightful discussions on the challenges and opportunities in New Zealand’s agricultural sector as it adapts to climate change.

Session 1: The Climate Challenge – Risks, Realities, and Responsibilities

9.15am – 10.20am
Exploring the current and projected impacts of climate change on New Zealand’s agricultural sector. This session will address the risks posed by shifting weather patterns, regulatory pressures, and global market expectations, as well as the responsibilities of farmers, policymakers, and industry leaders in navigating these challenges.

9.15am Keynote Speaker 1 – Dr. Wei Zhang, Lincoln University’s Centre of Excellence in Transformative Agribusiness
Harnessing Agrivoltaics: Integrating Renewable Energy with Productive Farmland
Dr. Zhang will explore how this innovative approach can enhance farm resilience, discussing the opportunities and challenges of implementing agrivoltaics for sustainable land management in the context of global climate change, while ensuring food security and agricultural productivity.
9.35am Keynote Speaker 2 – TBC
9.55am Keynote Speaker 3 – TBC
10.15am: Session Summary & Q&A – Prof. Paora Tapsell

10.20am: Break

Session 2: Innovation and Adaptation – Solutions for a Resilient Future

10.35am – 11.40am
Highlighting the latest advancements in sustainable farming practices, carbon reduction strategies, and climate adaptation technologies. This session will showcase real-world examples of how science, innovation, and collaboration are driving change within the sector.

10.35am Keynote Speaker 1 – Dr. Pieter-Willem Hendriks, Lincoln University

Next Generation Farming: Data-Driven, Regenerative, and Climate-Smart Agriculture
Dr. Hendriks will explore how precision agriculture, digital tools, and regenerative practices are shaping the farms of the future. He will highlight research-driven innovations that boost productivity while improving environmental outcomes.
10.55am Keynote Speaker 2 – TBC
11.15am Keynote Speaker 3 – TBC
11.35am: Session Summary & Q&A – Prof. Paora Tapsell

11.40am: Break

Session 3: The Road Ahead – Policy, Partnerships, and Practical Action

11.50am – 12.55pm
Focusing on the role of government policy, industry partnerships, and grassroots initiatives in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture. This session will explore how different stakeholders can work together to balance productivity with environmental stewardship and build a climate-resilient food system.

11.50am Keynote Speaker 1 – TBC
12.10pm Keynote Speaker 2 – TBC
12.30pm Keynote Speaker 3 – TBC
12.50pm: Session Summary & Q&A – Prof. Paora Tapsell

Closing Remarks & Networking

12.55pm: Summary by Prof. Paora Tapsell
1.05pm: Lunch and Networking
1.30pm: Event Concludes

About Our Speakers

Prof. Paora Tapsell, Lincoln University's Institute of Kāika Climate Resilience

Professor Paora Tapsell, of Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Raukawa descent, is a distinguished academic and leader in indigenous studies, museum curation, and cultural heritage. Raised in the Bay of Plenty's ancestral gardens of his grandparents, he became the first Māori curator of art and history at Rotorua Museum in 1990. He earned a Master's in Social Anthropology and a Doctorate in Museum Ethnography from the University of Oxford. His career includes roles as Director Māori at Auckland War Memorial Museum, Dean and Professor at the University of Otago, and Professor at the University of Melbourne, where he established Australia's first Indigenous Studies program. Co-founder of Māorimaps.com, he has facilitated reconnections between urban-raised Māori and their ancestral marae. In 2024, he was elected a Companion of the Royal Society Te Apārangi for his contributions to Māori communities.

In March 2025, he was appointed inaugural director of Lincoln University's Institute of Kāika Climate Resilience, integrating mātauranga Māori with contemporary science to address climate challenges.

Dr. Wei Zhang, Lincoln University’s Centre of Excellence in Transformative Agribusiness

My research is focusing on soil biogeochemistry and the benefits of grasses as companion plants, primarily in the contest of nutrient constraints in pastoral grasslands in the New Zealand High Country. My recent research focus on the transition of farming systems within a regenerative and agri-photovoltaic context. These researches aim to investigate the potential of regenerative agriculture and Agrivoltaic in New Zealand. By researching and analysing the agricultural production system in New Zealand, we will explore the potential benefits of this agricultural system for the country's agricultural development and propose specific recommendations and strategies for its implementation. These studies will provide valuable insights and guidance for the sustainable development and ecological conservation of the agricultural industry in New Zealand.

Dr. Pieter-Willem Hendriks, Lincoln University

My area is arable crop production, phenotyping and breeding. I have a specific interest in below-ground crop development and interactions. My recent research evolved around wheat- weed interactions and the improvement of the competitive ability of wheat. Competition with weeds is an ongoing problem in wheat production. The cost of weeds, increasing concerns around food safety, soil health, herbicide resistance and the reduction in the release of novel products suggest a need for an integrated weed management approach. Improving the competitive ability of wheat is one of the tools available in this integrated weed management. We studied the impact of the selection for and the breeding with increased early shoot vigour on the competitiveness of wheat. A particular focus was set at below ground root architecture and allelochemical interactions. Currently I am trying to set up a breeding effort to find solutions for the New Zealand Potato Industry. I would like to develop the speed breeding and phenotyping capacity at Lincoln University

More Speakers to be announced…

06 May 2025
Navigating Climate Challenges: Balancing Sustainability and Agricultural Productivity

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06 May 2025 Navigating Climate Challenges: Balancing Sustainability and Agricultural Productivity

Join us for an engaging discussion on the future of sustainable farming in Aotearoa—where innovation meets practicality, and where agriculture and the environment can thrive together.

About

Programme

About Our Speakers