Twenty-five high school students from across New Zealand have recently completed a three-day live-in programme to learn about career pathways in the food production supply chain.
Held from 9-11 July, the all-expenses-paid Rabobank Farm2Future educational camp was attended by Year 12 students from 20 different high schools across New Zealand. The programme took in visits to a range of agribusiness operations across the Canterbury region including Rakaia Island Dairy Farm, Willisden Farms, Original Foods Baking Company, NZ Merino, PGG Wrightson’s, Farm Source, and Foodstuffs. The programme also featured a panel discussion with several young agribusiness professionals talking about their roles in the sector.
This was the fourth edition of the Rabobank Farm2Future programme (previously FoodX) with the prior programmes having taken place in 2019, 2023 and 2024. This year’s attendees were selected from over 90 Year 12 students who put their names forward for the camp.
Farm2Future programme at Rakaia Island Dairy Farm
The initial idea for the programme was developed by the Rabobank Upper South Island Client Council – a group of Rabobank clients who work with the bank to address key agricultural industry challenges – after they identified a need for more promotion of agri industry careers among secondary school students.
All four of the programmes have been run in conjunction with land-based education specialist Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University.
Ed Tapp, a member of Rabobank’s Upper South Island Client Council, explained that the programme included visits to a diverse range of agribusinesses throughout the food supply chain. These experiences offered participants valuable insights into how food travels from farm to table.
“Our aim was to help students better understand the wide variety of career paths available within the food and agriculture sector,” Mr Tapp said.
“I believe we succeeded in giving them a solid introduction to the opportunities out there.”
Mr Tapp noted that while some students came from farming backgrounds, more than half had grown up in urban areas with little to no exposure to agriculture.
“There’s a real disconnect between urban youth and knowledge of the opportunities within the agricultural industry,” he said.
“And it’s crucial that we continue efforts to strengthen the urban-rural relationship.
“This initiative is one way the Upper South Island Rabobank Client Council is working to bridge that gap and one of the key messages we shared with students was that a successful career in agriculture doesn’t require a farming background.”
Mr Tapp said the Farm2Future programme itinerary and logistics were organised by Lincoln students who had received the Lincoln University Future Leader Scholarship – a scholarship awarded to school leavers with leadership potential and strong academic ability.
“The Lincoln University Future Leaders who organised the programme did an amazing job,” he said.
“They pulled together a really well-rounded programme for the students and are great examples of the type of talent the agricultural industry needs."
Programme attendee Graciela Neal Quinn from St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton said the camp was a really valuable experience.
“It was great to hear directly from a range of people already working in the food and fibre sector as their insights gave me a better understanding of the many agri career pathways out there,” she said.
“Being part of the camp also gave me the chance to meet others with similar interests, gain new experiences, and start seriously thinking about where I might fit in the industry.”
Graciela said the camp was really well organised, with great leaders and a full, engaging schedule.
“A lot of us even wished it was longer,” she said.
“I learnt something new at all the different companies we visited but, in particular, the visit to Original Foods was very cool, as baking isn't always thought of as relating to the agri sector.”
“Going behind the scenes and seeing the actual factory was super interesting, looking at different roles and how their products are made.”
Graciela said she’d been considering applying to a number of different Universities prior to the programme.
“I wasn't very sure what course or what University would fit me. But after seeing the Lincoln campus in person and getting to know the Future Leaders, I am really keen on going to Lincoln and studying an ag-related course,” she said.