More than 250 rural professionals and farmers converged on the Ashburton Event Centre for the first-ever Enviro Conference, hosted by Enviro Collective.

Billed as “Future Farming Success”, the one-day event on July 15 was designed to arm attendees with practical tools and real-world strategies for thriving amid regulatory changes and environmental challenges.

Enviro Collective general manager Richard Fitzgerald said he was pleased with the turnout and engagement across the day.

“We had a lot of good feedback in terms of the topics and the presenters,” Fitzgerald said.

“There was a great representation of farmers and rural professionals - key influencers in the sector - so having them hear and participate was really important.”

The conference featured a mix of keynote speakers, technical breakout sessions, and an Innovation Hub showcasing the latest in agri-tech.

Topics ranged from nitrogen and water management to land use diversification and resilience-building for the future.

Keynote presentations included economist Geoff Simmons, who explored the complexities of land use change in Canterbury, and Dr. Richard McDowell, whose session focused on the role of freshwater quality in maintaining farming’s social licence.

“The keynote speakers framed the macro-view of the environmental conversation,” Fitzgerald said, “while the breakout sessions were more detailed and technical.

“We tried to provide advanced content that would really stretch people, and I think farmers appreciated being extended in that way.”

Sessions were tailored across dairy, arable, water, and diversification streams, allowing attendees to customise their learning throughout the day.

The event came together with support from a number of regional partners including Barhill Chertsey Irrigation (BCI), Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Limited (ALIL), Mayfield Hinds Valetta Irrigation (MHV), the Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective (MCCC), and Aoraki Environmental Consultancy (AEC).

Fitzgerald said collaboration was crucial in delivering a conference that balanced regulatory realities with an optimistic, future-focused tone.

“It may seem a little dramatic, but it’s about having hope: hope that we can progress with better outcomes for everybody.
“Taking a positive view has really landed well with people across the board.”

Looking ahead, Fitzgerald plans to survey sponsors and attendees to identify improvements but is hopeful the Enviro Conference will become a regular fixture.

“We may do something again next year, but it could become an event that runs every second year."

By Claire Inkson