Farmer engagement with Fonterra Shareholders' Council

Abstract

It is often expressed from many farmers that there is a disconnect between farmers and Fonterra. There is a feeling that a lot of farmers don’t want to engage with their Co-operative simply because it has got so big and what chance do they have in really making a difference. Therefore first of all we must determine wether or not there is a disconnect and if so what we can do to improve engagement. In this report I will explore ways that the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council can better engage meaningfully with its’ farmers. This is particularly important to me because of my role as a Shareholder Councillor. I believe it is critical not only for the future of a strong and robust co-operative, but also for a favourable milk price for all New Zealand dairy farmers. A strong co-operative means actively engaged farmers that are not willing to jump to competitors for short-term gain. My concern is that if we end up with a fragmented dairy industry, as we have seen in other sectors, dairy farmers will be the ones who loose out due to an unsustainably low milk price.