New Dairy Industry Board

Media release

29 May 2007

New Dairy Industry Board

The creation of a single organisation to undertake industry good activities on behalf of dairy farmers has come a step closer with the formation of an Establishment Board to oversee the merging of Dairy InSight and Dexcel functions.

A review was held earlier this year, at the request of the Fonterra Shareholders Council, of the way dairy industry good activities – defined essentially as those of benefit to all farmers – were being funded and delivered.

The major outcome of that review was the recommendation that the functions of Dairy InSight (the funder of industry good activities) and Dexcel (the principal provider) should be merged.

Graham Fraser, who chaired the review process, announced today an Establishment Board had been formed, comprising Doug Leeder, Alister Body and Ted Coates (Dairy InSight), Jim van der Poel, John Luxton and Barbara Kuriger (Dexcel), Barry Harris (Fonterra), Mike Dunbier (former Crown Institute CEO), Craig Norgate (company director) and David Milne (Westland Co-op Dairy Company).

Mr Fraser said it had been agreed that the purpose of the new entity would be “to secure and enhance the sustainable profitability and competitiveness of New Zealand dairy farmers by pursuing an agreed industry strategy.”

He said farmers, who fund industry good activities through a levy, would be consulted on the merger process at a series of meetings planned for July and that a detailed merger proposal would be put to the Dairy InSight and Dexcel annual general meetings in October.

ENDS

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