Extra talent to join NZ Youth Ag Summit delegation

Extra talent to join NZ Youth Ag Summit delegation

• Focus on feeding a growing world population
• World map on www.youthagsummit.com shows where delegates come from
• Event to take place August 24-28, 2015 in Canberra, Australia

Auckland, July, 2015 New Zealand’s delegation attending the Global Youth Ag Summit in Canberra next month will be even stronger thanks to a late call from organisers of the forum.

Originally comprised of six forward-thinking young people from throughout New Zealand, the delegation will now be joined by Sarah Tait, who works for PGG Wrightson Seeds.

The addition of Tait, who specialises in arable seeds, follows an offer from Youth Ag Summit organisers who are bringing together more than 100 young leaders from around the world. The theme of the conference is feeding a growing world population.

Bayer New Zealand managing director Holger Detje, who also heads the company’s local CropScience division, says he’s delighted that New Zealand has been asked to bring more young people to the forum.

“I think it reflects well on New Zealand’s reputation as an innovative country, particularly in the area of agriculture.

“Word is getting out that we do things well over here and that we have a strong knowledge base that others can tap into.

“I’m convinced that our delegation of young New Zealanders will play a big part in coming up with ideas on how to feed a growing world population.”

Sarah Tait grew up in Mayfield, Mid Canterbury where her family continue to be passionate mixed cropping farmers. She was an exchange student in Spain in her final year of high school and has since worked on farms in New Zealand, Australia, England and South America.

Sarah studied a Bachelor of Agriculture at Lincoln University where she developed a strong interest in agronomy, farm management and international business.

She is now working in the Arable and International Teams for PGG Wrightson Seeds based in Ashburton, and is studying a Master in Spanish and Latin American Studies.

She will join the rest of the New Zealand delegation: Hamish Clarke, James Robertson, Zach Mounsey (Waikato), Sarah Crofoot (Wairarapa), Rosario Monzales (Massey) and Shaun Snoxell (South Canterbury).

Together they will join 100 delegates aged 18 to 25 and from 33 countries, who have been selected for the second global Youth Ag-Summit.

To be selected to represent New Zealand, the delegates had to write an essay outlining their position and ideas on the underlying causes of food insecurity and its effect on a growing world population.

The New Zealand delegation will be accompanied by a mentor and once in Canberra will network, hear from guest speakers and participate in debates, discussions, group-work and industry tours. The purpose of the Summit is to generate innovative, sustainable and actionable solutions which will be driven by their leadership.

Other countries taking part are: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA and Vietnam.

The forum is being held in Canberra, Australia, August 24 – 28.

About the Youth Ag-Summit
The Youth Ag-Summit is a global youth conference to inspire and connect the next generation of young leaders in agriculture. At the Summit, 100 young leaders aged 18 to 25 from all around the world meet to share perspectives and create an open dialogue on one of the world’s most challenging questions: how to feed a hungry planet? The Youth Ag-Summit forms part of the Agricultural Education Program and aims at raising awareness for food and farming all over the globe. Find more information about the summit on the website www.youthagsummit.com.

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