On April 4, 2025, Seedling had the privilege of presenting at the Future Farming Forum, hosted at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand by Future Farmers Aotearoa. This dynamic event brought together MPs from four political parties, industry leaders, and members of the Future Farmers network to envision a collaborative, sustainable future for New Zealand’s agricultural sector, which drives 79% of the nation’s export revenue.

The Forum, opened by Hon. Grant McCallum MP, set an inspiring tone with a focus on unity and solutions. Future Farmers Co-chairs Aimee Blake and Daniel Kenna shared their vision for a sector that works together to shape a hopeful future. The keynote address by Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, emphasized aligning land use with New Zealand’s unique landscape to address environmental challenges, drawing from his insightful report.

A highlight of the day was the Future Farmers Showcase, where Seb Chapman, representing Seedling, took the stage. Seb introduced Seedling’s innovative approach to tackling the succession crisis in agriculture. Through its Next Gen Agri Fund, Seedling invests to empower young farmers, enabling regenerative transitions that enhance soil health, biodiversity, and profitability in the process. This model not only retains talent but also transforms farms into sustainable, forward-thinking operations, a mission that resonated strongly with the Forum’s theme of unlocking sustainable value while caring for the whenua.

The event also featured thought-provoking group discussions, where attendees, including MPs, brainstormed solutions around data sharing, trust, native biodiversity, and policy. These sessions, alongside presentations from other innovators like Zespri’s Rachel Depree and Craffft’s Alex Radley, underscored the power of collaboration. The day concluded with the launch of Future Farmers’ Statement of Hope, a call to action for a thriving, sustainable primary sector.

Seedling was honored to contribute to this vibrant dialogue, alongside sponsors like Alliance, Zespri International, Wellington NZ, and FarmIQ Systems Ltd. The Forum reinforced our belief that by investing in young farmers and regenerative practices, we can build a resilient agricultural future for New Zealand.

For more on the event, check out the Statement of Hope here and Simon Upton’s report here.

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