Abstract

In the 21st century the central issue of global security and human destiny will be food, land and water. There is already evidence that most conflicts now arise as a result of shortages, misallocation or abuse of these vital keys to human survival and prosperity. Over the coming 50 years the world will add another New Zealand to its population every fortnight. Demand for knowledge about how to produce food and manage landscapes sustainably will be unmatched in human history. But two nations, Australia and New Zealand, are superbly placed to meet such a demand. Many of the answers the world is seeking already exist in our labs and on our farms. The challenge now is for us to build the world’s leading knowledge export industry that specialises in sustainable food, land and water.

JHJ, Cribb

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 60, Hamilton, 68-71, 2000