New Zealander's expertise recognised

Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton today congratulated Federated Farmers president Tom Lambie and vice-president Charlie Pedersen on their elections to leadership roles in the International Federation of Agricultural Producers.

Mr Lambie has been elected as one of three vice-presidents of the IFAP, and Mr Pedersen has been elected as vice-president of the IFAP dairy group.

Mr Sutton, attending the APEC trade ministers' meeting in Chile, said that the election of the two New Zealand farmers to the leadership roles was a recognition of the expertise New Zealanders had in agriculture and of the influence we had internationally.

"It is also a reflection of the personal integrity and expertise of both men. "

IFAP, the world body of nationally representative general farmers' organisation, is currently holding its 36th World Farmers' Congress in Washington D.C.

Based in Paris, IFAP was established in 1946 to secure the fullest cooperation between organisations of agricultural producers in meeting the optimum nutritional and consumptive requirements of people around the world. It works to improve the economic and social status of all who live by and on the land.

Mr Sutton said Mr Pedersen's expertise would benefit the IFAP's dairy section.

"Mr Pedersen led Federated Farmers' dairy section through the most significant period of reform in our dairy industry, the formation of Fonterra. Internationally, dairy is one of the most distorted markets, and in need of reform."

He said both Mr Lambie and Mr Pedersen would have important influence at a time when farmers internationally needed to adjust to proposed changes in global trade.

ENDS

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