One of the hot topics at the Red Meat Sector Conference this week was the recently enacted EU deforestation regulation, and how this will impact New Zealand meat exporters. Rebecca Greaves talks to farmer and Special Agricultural Trade Envoy for New Zealand, Hamish Marr, and lawyer Sarah Salmond, about this and more - including negotiating the minefield of Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and whether we should join forces with the Aussies.

Then hear from McDonald’s New Zealand's Simon Kenny about what they’re doing to get ahead of the game when it comes to sustainability, meeting their climate obligations and goals with their beef suppliers. 

Guests include:

1. Hamish Marr, Canterbury farmer and Special Agricultural Trade Envoy for New Zealand
2. Sarah Salmond, Lawyer, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
3. Simon Kenny, Head of Impact & Communications, McDonald’s New Zealand

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Special Agricultural Trade Envoy and Canterbury Farmer Hamish Marr discusses how EU de-forestration rules will impact our Fair Trade Agreement with them when it comes into effect in December. He says New Zealand is unique in its environmental stewardship and now the challenge is how we leverage that to do the best for our marketability. 

He also discusses what else he’s seeing overseas, what challenges other countries are discussing that will impact New Zealand, including climate change, and the perception of New Zealand as a clean green food producer. 

Lawyer Sarah Salmond spoke on a panel at the Red Meat Sector Conference on the emerging trade landscape, and works at the coalface of navigating ever-changing overseas regulations, especially coming out of the EU. She discusses how Free Trade Agreements are not the only tool in our toolbox, and can be viewed more as a foot in the door. 

Simon Kenny from McDonald’s New Zealand discusses how they are managing climate obligations with the beef they use in their products, and the work they are doing with the NZ Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. He discusses how they are front-footing meeting emissions targets, including from their suppliers, and how this ties into customer expectations. 

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