New Zealand farming is entering a period of sharp transition, driven by global market volatility, climate pressures, and new technology. Agribusiness leaders say the next 25 years will be defined by how well farmers adapt financial strategies, adopt integrated tools, and meet sustainability targets.
Farming Transformation Already in Motion
Jason Harvey-Wills, chief executive of Landpro, said the transformation of farming is not a future scenario but a process already happening. “Economic, technological, social, environmental and political changes will 100% ensure that farming in New Zealand and worldwide will continue to evolve over the next 25 years.”
Financial Management Becomes a Core Farm Skill
The old approach of leaving the books to the accountant no longer works. Harvey-Wills stresses that farmers must track their margins and return on investment as actively as they manage stock and crops.
“Gone are the days of farming on and then letting the accountant tell us how things turned out,” he says.
Farmers are now expected to plan strategically, review changing input returns, identify “lazy assets,” and seek efficiencies that match shifting global market needs.
From Agri-Tech Gadgets to Integrated Systems
New Zealand has long prided itself on being an early adopter of agri-tech, but Harvey-Wills argues the next stage is about system-wide integration.
Farmers are being encouraged to connect apps like Resolution with environmental plans and mapping tools at Landpro. The company is giving them real-time decision-making power. “By doing this, information can be directly uploaded into these apps adding real power, value, and usability,” he explains.
Robotics and automation are also advancing, with autonomous tractors and robotic harvesters now in commercial use where they provide clear time and quality advantages. Drones and sensors are increasingly common too. “A number of our key clients are already using this technology and using some of our Landpro drones, planes and sensors to get outstanding results,” Harvey-Wills says.
The data those systems generate is feeding into AI platforms capable of predicting yields, identifying pests, and optimising planting schedules. Harvey-Wills believes New Zealand is only “at the start of this journey” with “quantum leaps forward” still to come.
Sustainability as a Profit Strategy
Farmers are beginning to see sustainability as a financial strategy, not just a regulatory requirement. Landpro’s tagline — “better environments, better returns” — captures the shift.
One example is solar farming on low-yield land, which Harvey-Wills says can offset energy costs and generate income, sometimes with a three-year payoff period.
He recalls a conversation in Zimbabwe that sharpened his view of the link between economic survival and environmental care: “If we can’t afford to eat and our people are dying, how can we afford to have a nature park?”
People, Labour and Policy Pressures
Rural communities face ongoing labour shortages, especially in orchards and dairy farms. Automation helps, but Harvey-Wills insists that people remain essential. He also warns that New Zealand’s “tall poppy syndrome” and “that’s my information” mentality hold back the industry’s ability to grow through knowledge-sharing.
New Zealand’s pasture-based systems and sustainable branding give it a competitive edge in global markets. Innovation tends to come from smaller private firms, Harvey-Wills says, while large companies bring scale. Government has pledged to grow the food and fibre workforce by 2030, but farmers are watching closely to see whether those commitments are realised.
“Our ability to adapt with integrated strategies, innovative tools, and sustainable practices will define the success and resilience of New Zealand farming well into 2050 and beyond.”