The Common Ground

How has the Common Ground helped move forward from a report in late 2024 into action in 2025? 

It's been a transformative journey for the team led by Lee-Ann Marsh, General Manager for AGMARDT to get to the point of launching three innovative pilot projects aimed at tackling industry challenges through collaboration.

In this episode, Lee-Ann shares where they are at 12 months on from the launch of the inital report, the evolution happening behind the scenes and how feedback and engagement from the sector has helped shape the way forward.

Sarah Perriam-Lampp explores how the learnings about what is 'true collaboration' and how these initiatives are paving the way for a more integrated and forward-thinking industry. 

To read more and provide your ideas, details on the pilot projects and participate in the conversation, visit www.thecommonground.org.nz

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As the conversation has evolved since the launch of the The Common Ground report in late 2024, we asked two past leaders about what worked before, what is (and isn’t) fit for purpose now and how we collaborate and build trust from here. 

This episode, hosted by agricultural journalist Sarah Perriam-Lampp features former Beef + Lamb NZ chair, Mike Petersen and former Federated Farmers president. 

"There is a lot more that binds us than divides us and to build collaboration on a handful of the big issues you need to get people together at leadership level to get the buy-in" explains Mike Petersen.

What’s discussed?

• Does the Commodities Levies Act need reform and what is the best model to enable farmers to invest in their future?
• The importance of directing our efforts towards the commercial sector rather than the government to fix our problems.
• Bruce’s experience with the challenges and opportunities of establishing industry good organisations.
• They believe that there has been many changes to how we collaborate better, build collective voices and acknowledge the good work that has and is being done.
• What type of collaboration do we need? Mike believes that we need more vertically integrated commercial collaboration (focussed on connecting to our customers) instead of pan-sector collaboration across our industry.
• How industry chairs & CEO’s are increasingly coming together to talk about the big issues – in order to build trust and respect amongst themselves.
• The unhelpful swings in government and our tendency as a sector to run to government with all our problems - instead of bringing them a cohesive vision and clear asks on how they can enable it.

To read the report “Are industry good bodies good for industry?” and provide your ideas and participate in the conversation, visit www.thecommonground.org.nz

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Reimagining our future means reimagining our industry's good ecosystem.

The vision of ‘what industry good would look like to maximise our future’ with the concept of a collaboration platform - The Common Ground is a starting point as one possible option of what a future model could look like to get the conversation going.

Join us as we dive into understanding how we could change how we work together whilst acknowledging the ‘good’ industry good bodies do have.  

This episode, hosted by agricultural journalist Sarah Perriam-Lampp features KPMG Head of Global Agribusiness, Ian Proudfoot one of the authors of the report and AGMARDT general manager, Lee-Ann Marsh. 

"It’s everyone's job and everyone has a role to play but it’s about how we do it effectively," explains Lee-Ann Marsh.   

What’s discussed?

• The world that we are operating in now and that unlocking the opportunities globally will only happen with collaboration
• Why He Waka Eke Noa was a great opportunity but why trust broke down and the difference between the concept of The Common Ground
• Explain the set of principles of The Common Ground and how industry leaders should see the benefit rather than threatened by the concept as it’s about co-investing together to make funds go further
• Why the ‘big bang’ model of restructure the whole system will not change the culture and a change in thinking

To read the report “Are industry good bodies good for industry?” and provide your ideas and participate in the conversation, visit www.thecommonground.org.nz 

Read the 2024 KPMG Agribusiness Agenda is Today’s potential, tomorrow’s possibilities.

Read the 2024 AGMARDT report “Pathways to Governance: Enhancing Food and Fibre Sector Governance for Greater Impact.”

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'Are industry good organisations good for industry?' 

That’s the burning question proposed as part of the concept of a collaboration platform - The Common Ground. Join us as we dive into understanding why we need change whilst acknowledging the ‘good’ industry good bodies do have.  

This episode, hosted by agricultural journalist Sarah Perriam-Lampp featuring AGMARDT Chair, Nick Pyke with previous experience across kiwifruit and arable industry as well as Waikato farmer, Beef + Lamb NZ director, AGMARDT Associate Trustee and Nuffield Scholar, Phil Weir.

"The nature of farming has become more diversified since the establishment of the Commodities Levies Act. Farming now is an increasingly complex business so how do we best reflect that in the needs of our farmers," explains Phil Weir.  

What’s discussed?

• The duplication of work done between organisation and the efficiency collaboration on common work would bring. 
• Reflection on the last 30 years from the establishment of the Commodities Levies Act 1990 but it hasn’t continually improved to be effective for a changing landscape
• Why farming businesses today require different needs
• Why haven’t previous attempts worked and why trust has been eroded but is needed more than ever to move forward

To read the report “Are industry good bodies good for industry?” and provide your ideas and participate in the conversation, visit www.thecommonground.org.nz 

Read Phil Weir’s 2020 Nuffield Report “Restructuring Industry Good for the Future​”

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Before jumping into the episodes you can read the full report or enjoy a brief introduction as a monologue from the series host, Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

She summarises the details of the report 'Are industry good organisations good for industry?'  and a proposed solution, The Common Ground. This covers the reasons for reimagining our future, the four key constraints that appear to be holding us back, and the way to bring about change.

"The alternative is that we have change forced upon us rather than in our control and I know what I'd rather have," shares Sarah.

To read the report and provide your ideas and participate in the conversation, visit www.thecommonground.org.nz 

The Common Ground was produced by CountryWide Media funded by AGMARDT in conjunction with KPMG New Zealand. 

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