1. Now that it’s published, what delights you most about the first New Zealand Land & Food Annual?
It’s an annual publication, so for as long as I am involved with it I have my family birthday presents sorted!
2. Why is the Land & Food Annual important?
It is important because we all care deeply about New Zealand’s future, and the opportunity to engage in this future is a challenge that is open to everyone — whether they are connected to the agricultural sector or not. We plan to publish this publication every year as a way to offer general readers a way in to the conversations about land and food that affect us all. These debates are hugely important — and we need to engage people in talking about the issues in an informed and constructive way. Massey University is perfectly positioned to take a leading role in this debate.
3. Tell us about one thing that you discovered while editing the Land & Food Annual.
There are all sorts of interesting facts throughout the book in the various chapters that were contributed. As editor, to my great joy, I discovered that there is a real appetite among those outside the university to put their thoughts on paper and share them. I am delighted to have such a strong mix of research chapters sitting alongside those that come from an industry perspective.
4. How long did it take from first thinking about the book until you signed off on the final proofs?
I’d been thinking about a book on this topic for a while, but as soon as I made contact with the MUP everything moved into high gear. After meeting with Nicola Legat, the publisher, it was eight months pretty much to the day — amazingly speedy.
5. Exhausting or exhilarating?
Completely exhilarating, satisfying and really good fun.
6. You have a huge job at Massey as professor of Agribusiness. How did you find the time for this book?
Once all the chapter authors were signed up I had the easiest job of all — to put my own reflections down on paper to act as the introductory chapter [Note: you can read an excerpt of Claire's intro in the News section of our website]. This is my fourth book, and I can honestly say that it was the smoothest process I have ever encountered — thanks to the fantastic contributors and the amazing team at MUP.
7. What time of the day is the best for you for writing?
At my desk at home in the early morning — from 6 a.m. on.
8. What do you hope readers will learn from this edition of the Land & Food Annual?
That when people say ‘this is a complex problem’ it actually is! In New Zealand we talk a lot about ‘farming systems’ — and more recently we have added the phrase ‘food systems’ — but it seems as if we then gloss over the fact that systems are by definition complex. This means that the problems (or challenges) are not simple or quick to solve — and there are sometimes no obvious solutions.
9. Will there be a 2017 edition of the Land & Food Annual?
The guest editor is already hard at work on it, so I sure hope so!
10. What are you reading at the moment?
The Land & Food Annual of course!!
