The Future of Farming: Beyond the fields we know
Media Release by MoRST
8th November 2006
Imagine a future where farmers survey their properties not so much from the top of a hill as from above a plasma screen, where GPS and other technologies allow cows to be tracked and checked for illness at a touch.
Science fiction – or soon-to-be fact? That’s just one of the host of issues touched on by the Future Farming Roadshow, an intriguing vision of the future of New Zealand agriculture that will be launched at the East Foyer of the Beehive at 6.10pm on November 7 by Young Farmer of the Year John McCaw and acting Minister of Research, Science and Technology Pete Hodgson.
The Future Farming Roadshow is a high-tech interactive exhibition that will be touring the country from November. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.
Packed with large plasma screens showcasing top-quality computer graphics, the Future Farming Roadshow gives people a look of at how advances in biotechnology and other factors may have affected agriculture by the year 2017.
From the benefits of bird poo to the boom in goat products to the value-added products on the shelves of a “digital supermarket”, the Roadshow highlights on issues and technologies that could be the hot topics around the bar of rural pubs ten years from now.
Coming soon to A&P shows and other events and venues across the country, the Future Farming Roadshow will get people thinking about the exciting future awaiting New Zealand agriculture.
At the launch on November 7, the Roadshow will be parked on the Forecourt of Parliament and will be available for people to view and photograph following the launch, until 8.30pm.
Questions and answers about the Roadshow, a list of venues it will be visiting, and a design of the interior of the exhibition, are available at:
www.morst.govt.nz/future-farming
View images of the Roadshow
For further information, please contact:
Tane Aikman
Communications Adviser
Phone +64 4 9173065 tane.aikman@morst.govt.nz