Here comes the sun, and the rain!

NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
& THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE INC.
Manawatu Sections

NZIAS National Secretariat, PO Box 121063 Henderson, Waitakere City
NZSHS National Secretariat, PO Box 19560 Christchurch 2

Here comes the sun, and the rain!

For Immediate Release
Thursday, 30 March, 2000

Contact: Paul Austin HortResearch, Palmerston North Tel. 06-356-8080

Palmerston North
The agricultural and horticultural sectors can prepare for the next of nature’s climatic surprises, according to organisers of a national science convention "Managing the Impacts of Climatic Variability: The Noah Paradigm".

The convention, to be held in June, will be hosted at Massey University by four societies representing scientists in agriculture, agronomy, horticulture and meteorology.

A key speaker, Dr Roger Stone, Principle Research Scientist at the Queensland Centre for Climate Applications, has wide experience in agricultural climate analysis and forecasting systems for production and resource management for primary industry.

"Climate forecasting for rural industry only has real value if it can be targeted towards a key decision point in an agricultural system" Dr Stone said. "The real challenge is to show just where and how climate forecasting will change management decisions in agriculture."

Speakers covering areas such as climatic variability, production system responses, as well as policy and management strategies will support Dr Stone. Other speakers will include:

Jim Salinger Senior Climatologist, NIWA

Dean Witters Managing Director, CEDENCO Foods

Bruce Campbell Science Leader, AgResearch

George Pottinger Rural Manager, National Bank of New Zealand

Alan Walker Director, MAF Policy Info and Regions Group

David White Director, ASIT Consulting (Australia).

The experience and breadth of perspective offered be these speakers will ensure the symposium will prove valuable to primary industry producer and consultants, resource managers, insurers, finance and banking specialists, policy analysts, and produce marketers.

And why the 'Noah Paradigm', you may ask. The answer: It was Noah who first took heed of a climatic forecast, adopted the recommended adaptation strategy, undertook mitigative action (the ark), used indicators to assess environmental performance, and returned to normal business, given a suitable risk assessment (the rainbow). Hence, 'The Noah Paradigm'!

The convention will take place 27-29 June, with the “Noah Paradigm” plenary symposium on 28 June. Convention information is available on the internet at http://hortnet.co.nz/noah/. or contact Nanthi Bolan, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University Tel. 06-356-9099.

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