Only 6 percent of NZ school leavers go into jobs in the agriculture sector - and most are male.
Girls Who Grow is a new organisation on a mission to change that and encourage young women into careers in our food and fibre industry via workshops and farm visits.
Photo: Unsplash
There's a lot of climate anxiety amongst young people who aren't aware that their interest in protecting the environment can translate to a job in sustainable agriculture, says co-founder Catherine van der Meulen.
Asking what agriculture and farming mean to teenagers, you'll often hear about the environmental impact of cows, van der Meulen says.
Few of them are aware that it can also be a good career option for people with an interest in science, marketing and branding.
Aotearoa needs the voices of environmentally conscious and educated young women in the agricultural sector, van der Meulen says.
"Their natural interest in photography or film or the arts... these all part of the solution to the bigger picture of the [farming] future we want to repaint for New Zealand."
Co-founders of Girls Who Grow, Catherine van der Meulen (L) and Aimee Blake (R) Photo: supplied
Girls Who Grow cofounder Aimee Blake grew up on her family farm and was told at a young age she should get an education to do something else.
Aimee is now leading change through Girls Who Grow and Future Farmers New Zealand while completing her second master's degree in agribusiness and sustainable food systems at Lincoln University.
Education is critical to the future of farming in Aotearoa, van der Meulen says.
"Agriculture is a really important sector for New Zealand but there's lots of things we need to evolve and reshape to be a future-proof industry."
