The Hidden Ingredient
At this year’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, Central Plains Water Limited (CPWL) invited visitors to take a fresh look at what’s in their pantry.
From grains and vegetables to dairy and meat, Canterbury farmers grow the ingredients that underpin both everyday meals and premium exports. This world-class food production is supported by sustainable irrigation and skilled farming practices.
The objective was to reconnect consumers with the origin of their food, highlighting the land, water and innovation that enable the transformation from seed to staple. By showcasing where it all begins, we told the full story of how local farming supports food security for Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
CPWL delivers sustainable irrigation across 45,000 hectares of shareholder farmland, enabling sustainable land use and intergenerational value. Of that land, 23,564 hectares were once dryland but are now productive irrigated farms, representing a significant shift in land use.
This has resulted in measurable production gains:
- 441.57 million litres of additional milk.
- 2.88 million additional loaves of bread.
- 1.22 million kilograms of additional premium beef.
In addition, 21,436 hectares of farmland that previously relied on groundwater are now supplied by surface water from the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers. This transition has reduced groundwater use across the scheme by 50–70% while enabling higher yields, extended growing seasons and more reliable food production across some of Canterbury’s most productive soils.
Canterbury’s food influence stretches far beyond the farm gate. The region plays a key role in global vegetable seed production, including carrot, radish and beet seeds. Irrigation also helps fuel over $140 million in processed pea exports each year. Behind these figures is a deep sense of pride in the food grown by CPWL shareholders — care that is reflected in both quality and taste.
