Home9 February 2026
Few sectors are more contentious than dairy, with debates tending to be polarised between optimising the current system and “abolitionist” narratives. The ongoing intensification of dairy farming globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand has been linked to issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, declines in water quality and soil health, as well as disputes over animal welfare and human health. The dairy industry, however, plays a significant role in Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy and remains the country’s biggest export earner.
In this webinar, we explore the reasoning used by a range of people publicly debating the present status and desirable future of the New Zealand dairy industry. We interviewed professionals with expertise related to the dairy industry in New Zealand. Participants were chosen to encompass a range of views and expertise, including economics, farm systems management, animal welfare, freshwater ecology, soil science, political science, business and finance. We explored how articulation of challenges or problems shapes beliefs about potential solutions. Multiple, contested interpretations of the environmental, societal, ethical and health impacts of dairy farming exist because these impacts are complex, difficult to measure, unknowable in an easily accessible way, and thus represent a “wicked problem.” Arguments for and against dairy tend to be grounded in competing value frameworks rather than arising from gaps in scientific knowledge.
About the Presenter
Dr Elizabeth Elliot Noe is an interdisciplinary researcher with Lincoln University whose work explores how people, farming systems, and biodiversity interact in Aotearoa’s working landscapes. A former researcher with Bioprotection Aotearoa during its Tranche 1 programme, her research focuses on the social and ecological factors that influence how biodiversity can be supported within productive agricultural systems. Her work also brings together ecological science and human perspectives to help identify practical pathways for restoring biodiversity in farmed environments.
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More Information
Research: Promoting native biodiversity on Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farms
Learn more about Elizabeth’s postdoctoral research with Bioprotection Aotearoa
About Rangahau Rising Webinar Series
Rangahau Rising is a webinar series showcasing emerging researchers who are asking bold questions and exploring new directions in bioprotection. Each session features an early career researcher sharing their journey, ideas, and in-progress work across a range of bioprotection topics.