NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
& THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE INC.
Manawatu Sections
NZIAS National Secretariat, PO Box 121063 Henderson, Waitakere City
NZSHS National Secretariat, PO Box 19560 Christchurch 2
Here comes the sun, and the rain!
For Immediate Release
Thursday, 30 March, 2000
Contact: Paul Austin HortResearch, Palmerston North Tel. 06-356-8080
Palmerston North
The agricultural and horticultural sectors can prepare for the next of nature’s climatic surprises, according to
organisers of a national science convention "Managing the Impacts of Climatic Variability: The Noah Paradigm".
The convention, to be held in June, will be hosted at Massey University by four societies representing scientists in
agriculture, agronomy, horticulture and meteorology.
A key speaker, Dr Roger Stone, Principle Research Scientist at the Queensland Centre for Climate Applications, has wide
experience in agricultural climate analysis and forecasting systems for production and resource management for primary
industry.
"Climate forecasting for rural industry only has real value if it can be targeted towards a key decision point in an
agricultural system" Dr Stone said. "The real challenge is to show just where and how climate forecasting will change
management decisions in agriculture."
Speakers covering areas such as climatic variability, production system responses, as well as policy and management
strategies will support Dr Stone. Other speakers will include:
Jim Salinger Senior Climatologist, NIWA
Dean Witters Managing Director, CEDENCO Foods
Bruce Campbell Science Leader, AgResearch
George Pottinger Rural Manager, National Bank of New Zealand
Alan Walker Director, MAF Policy Info and Regions Group
David White Director, ASIT Consulting (Australia).
The experience and breadth of perspective offered be these speakers will ensure the symposium will prove valuable to
primary industry producer and consultants, resource managers, insurers, finance and banking specialists, policy
analysts, and produce marketers.
And why the 'Noah Paradigm', you may ask. The answer: It was Noah who first took heed of a climatic forecast, adopted
the recommended adaptation strategy, undertook mitigative action (the ark), used indicators to assess environmental
performance, and returned to normal business, given a suitable risk assessment (the rainbow). Hence, 'The Noah
Paradigm'!
The convention will take place 27-29 June, with the “Noah Paradigm” plenary symposium on 28 June. Convention information
is available on the internet at http://hortnet.co.nz/noah/. or contact Nanthi Bolan, Institute of Natural Resources,
Massey University Tel. 06-356-9099.
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