Craigmore Sustainables is the only New Zealand land manager that operates at scale in each of New Zealand’s three core primary sectors: horticulture, dairy farming and forestry. It also claims to be a leader in sustainable practices, seeking to become carbon neutral in some of its dairy and kiwifruit operations, employing local owner/operators and finding innovative ways to reduce environmental impact. Co-founder Forbes Elworthy is the fourth generation of Elworthys to own Craigmore Station, one of Canterbury’s largest sheep and beef farms. He has big shoes to fill: his father, Sir Peter Elworthy, led Federated Farmers during the turbulent economic reforms of the 1980s and was on the board of the Reserve Bank. He was also a founder of the Sustainability Council which successfully opposed the release of genetically modified organisms in New Zealand. Farming and a love for the land are clearly in Forbes’s blood, but what does that mean in the 21st century? And how are New Zealand farmers responding to the climate and ecological crisis?
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About Craigmore and Map of Ag
Established in 2008 by two New Zealand family farmers – Forbes Elworthy and Mark Cox – Craigmore now has a highly experienced team managing a mix of dairy, grazing, forestry and horticultural properties spread over both islands and more than 15,000 hectares.
Craigmore Sustainables is a New Zealand owned and controlled business set up to help fund development and grow regional food and fibre businesses. While it mostly uses European funding sources, Craigmore appoints and employs local New Zealand management and governance for every business.
Craigmore Sustainables includes 22 dairy farms, located from North Canterbury to North Otago, and a sheep and beef farm in Middlemarch. The company has a sustainability programme in place at each of its farms, horticulture and forestry operations.
It’s aim: to be a long-term producer of high quality food and forest products, managing the land sustainably, and working with the best managers in New Zealand.
Episode Links:
See more about Craigmore Sustainables here.
Also read Craigmore’s latest summary of sustainability trends in agriculture here
Visit Map of Ag, Forbes’ data management business here.
