Clive Bibby: Kiwis that punch above their weight

Watching Country Calendar each week will introduce you to the growing number of entrepreneurial Kiwi farmers, agricultural scientists plus associate businessmen and women who contribute towards our international reputation for innovation and fiscal integrity in the rural sector.

While our reputation for giving birth to individuals who become world leaders in their chosen profession or on the sports field, their presence on the International Agriculture Stage is too often something that flies below the radar.

I suppose it has a lot to do with the accepted international image of a country dependant on a pastoral economy as one that relies on practical solutions to problems rather than those more scientifically based.

Of course with the potential for AI taking over jobs previously owned and operated by humans impacting the social rearrangement of the deck chairs on the Titanic, it is no surprise that the agriculture sector will not be put under the same pressure that other job markets are. Unlike other sectors, it doesn’t employ that many people relative to the income it generates. However it would be a mistake to assume technological breakthroughs in farming requires designers of lower 1Q than their commercial counterparts.

In fact, it would appear that jobs lost to AI in Agriculture, (driverless tractors etc) at least in the foreseeable future, would provide welcome relief from the mental strain of running the modern family farm - no small task on its own.

So, just out of interest, let’s take a look at the scientific advances made that enhances the effectiveness of commonly used techniques for the application of essential fertilisers that, in turn, ensure high levels of plant growth - arguably the most important ingredient in a highly productive pastoral or arable economy.

Recently I watched a segment of Country Calendar that included reference to a Taupo based innovation for applying a slow release membrane to nitrogen fertiliser capsules - a product that is essential to plant growth during winter months when fodder reserves for pregnant animals is at a seasonal low.

This innovative manufacturing technique includes the use of thermal energy from a plant owned by local iwi so those involved in an associated industry benefit as well.

And, if we were to add in the development of our regional natural gas resources which is a key component of the nitrogen fertiliser production, then we could be looking at the development of a new export industry that would save our farmers from dependency on other foreign sources of nitrogen.

In this day and age, during times of international conflict, it is not hard to see what happens to economies where dependency on a foreign source of basic ingredients like oil are at risk.

In some ways, our agriculturally based economy’s dependence on nitrogen fertiliser could be compared on equal terms to those who rely on foreign oil supplies for their energy stockpiles.

That comparison alone must put into question the government decision to forego the planned development of our Taranaki based natural gas reserves .

It makes one wonder, why don’t we put more faith in the entrepreneurial abilities of our home-grown decision makers than the politicians we pay to make decisions that, we as a nation, ultimately come to regret?

I guess the answer to that question is - having made the decision to operate as a democracy, we must live with the consequences.

“Democracy is a very poor form of government but all the rest are so much worse” – didn’t Churchill say that, or words to that effect?

As an aside, it is interesting to note the current state of UK politics - the country that gave birth to our modern system of democratic self government.

Who would have thought that things could get so bad yet they still refuse to introduce a form of MMP that would enable the people to vote for a person of choice without seeing their vote wasted. Modern democratic politics is best served by building alliances with like minded groups whose combined total vote is large enough to form a majority.

As a fairer system of voter representation, it is not perfect (I would prefer the Aussie STV system) but it does allow those who prove to be above average performers to become active at the highest level of government, as part of a coalition, irrespective the size of their own personal voter following.

One thing is clear - we are going to need people who understand the implications of AI and other 21st Century technologies better than the average person.

Because our future of peaceful coexistence with the environment we have created - a system that retains control in the hands of humans capable of designing compatible, sustainable structures of employment and overall management - that is not vulnerable to human error.

To achieve that, we will need to focus on systems that outthink the machines.

My guess is we will need to have an “Einstein or his equivalent” at the head of every boardroom table.

Thankfully, our Kiwi genetic background suggests we are up for the challenge.

Heaven help us if we aren’t.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.