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Keith Woodford

About

Keith Woodford is an independent consultant who holds honorary positions as Professor of Agri-Food Systems at Lincoln University and Senior Research Fellow at the Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University. His archived writings are available at http://keithwoodford.wordpress.com

Member for

12 years

Latest articles

It’s time for Fonterra to find the path forward
Fonterra has spent nearly three years stabilising its finances. The focus now has to be on finding the path ahead
16th Nov 20, 11:05am
by Keith Woodford
8
Fonterra has spent nearly three years stabilising its finances. The focus now has to be on finding the path ahead
Agriculture will change but pastoral agriculture will survive and prosper
Agriculture will change but pastoral agriculture will survive and prosper. It is all about international competitive advantage, new technologies and managing the environment. It can be done but it won’t be easy
9th Nov 20, 8:48am
by Keith Woodford
43
Agriculture will change but pastoral agriculture will survive and prosper. It is all about international competitive advantage, new technologies and managing the environment. It can be done but it won’t be easy
The Reserve Bank drives economic policy
The Reserve Bank drives economic policy with officials, rather than elected Government, in the driver’s seat. But the Reserve Bank mandate provided by the Government is where it all starts
3rd Nov 20, 7:37am
by Keith Woodford
87
The Reserve Bank drives economic policy with officials, rather than elected Government, in the driver’s seat. But the Reserve Bank mandate provided by the Government is where it all starts
Green-lipped mussels are becoming heavy lifters
Hatchery technologies and open-sea farms provide the platform for new endeavours with green-lipped mussels
21st Oct 20, 9:24am
by Keith Woodford
19
Hatchery technologies and open-sea farms provide the platform for new endeavours with green-lipped mussels
Composting mootels can transform dairy, but only if we get things right
Composting mootels (barns) are the exciting technology that can transform New Zealand dairy by addressing environmental issues, enhancing animal welfare, and increasing the efficiency of pastoral dairy
8th Oct 20, 3:16pm
by Keith Woodford
40
Composting mootels (barns) are the exciting technology that can transform New Zealand dairy by addressing environmental issues, enhancing animal welfare, and increasing the efficiency of pastoral dairy
Fonterra stabilises finances with back to basics model
Fonterra has stabilised its finances with more asset sales forthcoming. It now operates a conservative model supported by its farmer members. But the model will not create the ‘national champion’ that the Labour Government has always hoped for
21st Sep 20, 10:09am
by Keith Woodford
9
Fonterra has stabilised its finances with more asset sales forthcoming. It now operates a conservative model supported by its farmer members. But the model will not create the ‘national champion’ that the Labour Government has always hoped for
Coronavirus border policies need a deeper rethink
New Zealand’s current coronavirus border policies fail to reflect the current Northern Hemisphere surge in cases and the consequent enhanced risks to COVID-19 management in New Zealand
13th Sep 20, 2:25pm
by Keith Woodford
82
New Zealand’s current coronavirus border policies fail to reflect the current Northern Hemisphere surge in cases and the consequent enhanced risks to COVID-19 management in New Zealand
Green vegetables grow at the feet of big mountains
Green vegetables and hydroponics combine nicely when consumers are close but productive land is scarce
9th Sep 20, 9:56am
by Keith Woodford
7
Green vegetables and hydroponics combine nicely when consumers are close but productive land is scarce
Big win for Fonterra from latest DIRA amendments
New DIRA settings give Fonterra what it wanted but make life much more challenging for any new dairy processors
24th Aug 20, 5:04pm
by Keith Woodford
4
New DIRA settings give Fonterra what it wanted but make life much more challenging for any new dairy processors
A resource-based perspective on immigration
Any debate on immigration has to consider the fixed natural resources that have to be spread across increasing numbers of citizens
16th Aug 20, 8:02am
by Keith Woodford
83
Any debate on immigration has to consider the fixed natural resources that have to be spread across increasing numbers of citizens
Can strong wool find a new El Dorado?
There are opportunities for strong wool based on quality and sustainability but it needs action plus applied research & development rather than more reports
13th Aug 20, 2:09pm
by Keith Woodford
10
There are opportunities for strong wool based on quality and sustainability but it needs action plus applied research & development rather than more reports
Is regenerative agriculture the real deal?
Regenerative agriculture is in vogue as a concept but what does it really mean?
29th Jul 20, 4:01pm
by Keith Woodford
82
Regenerative agriculture is in vogue as a concept but what does it really mean?
Can low interest rates really stimulate the economy?
Quantitative easing is surely driving down interest rates and in time will most likely lead to inflation. Whether it will stimulate the economy is much more problematic
25th Jul 20, 9:35am
by Keith Woodford
114
Quantitative easing is surely driving down interest rates and in time will most likely lead to inflation. Whether it will stimulate the economy is much more problematic
Food and fibre reset lacks a strategic core
The Government’s new food and fibre reset document is PR aspiration fluff. The hard work remains to be done
15th Jul 20, 5:30pm
by Keith Woodford
50
The Government’s new food and fibre reset document is PR aspiration fluff. The hard work remains to be done
Seeking new markets in the West
Neither Europe nor the USA are going to do us any trading favours says Keith Woodford. For both of them, it is all about self-interest
29th Jun 20, 5:03pm
by Keith Woodford
51
Neither Europe nor the USA are going to do us any trading favours says Keith Woodford. For both of them, it is all about self-interest
Quantitative easing floods capital markets
The flooding of capital markets with massive new money from the RBNZ's quantitative easing program calls for a fuller debate of what the central bank and the Minister of Finance are trying to achieve, says Keith Woodford
21st Jun 20, 6:02am
by Keith Woodford
130
The flooding of capital markets with massive new money from the RBNZ's quantitative easing program calls for a fuller debate of what the central bank and the Minister of Finance are trying to achieve, says Keith Woodford
The ongoing search for new markets – India and beyond
Finding new markets for NZ exports is challenging. Here, Keith Woodford looks at the Southern Asian countries of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and further west to Iran
16th Jun 20, 4:36pm
by Keith Woodford
13
Finding new markets for NZ exports is challenging. Here, Keith Woodford looks at the Southern Asian countries of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and further west to Iran
Rugby’s role in a greater South Pacific strategic reset
In a COVID-affected world we need to think outside the square. Here is one idea as to how New Zealand can both help itself and its South Pacific neighbours, linking sport, tourism and the economy
13th Jun 20, 10:20am
by Keith Woodford
40
In a COVID-affected world we need to think outside the square. Here is one idea as to how New Zealand can both help itself and its South Pacific neighbours, linking sport, tourism and the economy
A1 milk predisposes to asthma and lung inflammation
New findings published by Nature Research, demonstrating how A1 milk predisposes for asthma and lung inflammation, should bring the A1 milk issue back into focus for both consumers and farmers
3rd Jun 20, 7:32pm
by Keith Woodford
24
New findings published by Nature Research, demonstrating how A1 milk predisposes for asthma and lung inflammation, should bring the A1 milk issue back into focus for both consumers and farmers
COVID-19 scenarios are becoming increasingly evident
Despite the uncertainties, there is emerging evidence as to how COVID-19 is now likely to play out, both in New Zealand and across the globe. Identifying these scenarios is fundamental to subsequent response strategies for economic recovery
26th May 20, 7:51pm
by Keith Woodford
86
Despite the uncertainties, there is emerging evidence as to how COVID-19 is now likely to play out, both in New Zealand and across the globe. Identifying these scenarios is fundamental to subsequent response strategies for economic recovery
Searching for markets within ASEAN
If New Zealand wants to diversify it trade away from China then the ten ASEAN countries will be important markets. However, the commercial realities, particularly for value-add products, will be challenging
21st May 20, 9:37am
by Keith Woodford
36
If New Zealand wants to diversify it trade away from China then the ten ASEAN countries will be important markets. However, the commercial realities, particularly for value-add products, will be challenging
COVID-19 is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability
COVID-19 illustrates the difficulties society has in dealing with uncertainties and the stresses this creates
10th May 20, 4:20pm
by Keith Woodford
59
COVID-19 illustrates the difficulties society has in dealing with uncertainties and the stresses this creates
North-East Asian markets as China alternatives
Low North-East Asian birth rates are leading to population declines that create market development challenges for New Zealand, as it seeks alternative to China
7th May 20, 9:57am
by Keith Woodford
72
Low North-East Asian birth rates are leading to population declines that create market development challenges for New Zealand, as it seeks alternative to China
Why and how did China's markets become so important for New Zealand?
Keith Woodford explains how New Zealand exporters went to China because that was where the markets were. In many cases, it was the Chinese who came to us seeking our products
2nd May 20, 9:00am
by Keith Woodford
73
Keith Woodford explains how New Zealand exporters went to China because that was where the markets were. In many cases, it was the Chinese who came to us seeking our products
Monday’s COVID-19 decision will be a defining moment for New Zealand
The forthcoming decision as to when we should move to COVID Level 3 is high risk, with expectations high, but not enough information for confident decision making
18th Apr 20, 7:10pm
by Keith Woodford
337
The forthcoming decision as to when we should move to COVID Level 3 is high risk, with expectations high, but not enough information for confident decision making