7 October 2014
Mandy Bell to stand for Alliance farmer director elections
Today farmer and vet Dr. Mandy Bell announced she is standing as a candidate in
the Alliance farmer director elections as she wants to help the co-operative achieve
sustained profitability for its shareholders.
Dr. Bell, who has been farming Criffel Station in Wanaka for 22 years, said like many
farmers she has been asking why is it that New Zealand sheep, beef and deer
farmers cannot achieve solid returns on a sustainable basis.
“It doesn’t make sense when we are the world’s number one lamb and deer exporter,
one of the top five beef exporters, and there is growing international demand for
protein.”
She believes that overcapacity, poor procurement practices and compromised
marketing are eroding the profitability of the red meat sector, and points to farmers
leaving the industry and sheep and deer numbers dropping as evidence of this.
“There is only one answer if we are to truly reverse these trends and achieve
sustained profitability,” she said. “Our industry has to be restructured and
consolidated. This requires the right people sitting around Alliance’s board table.
People who share a vision for a vertically integrated, market led, farmer controlled
co-op and want to see Alliance shareholders benefit from this.”
Dr. Bell said preliminary findings from MIE’s farmer attitudes survey showed that
86% would or may support a restructuring of the NZ Red Meat Industry, suggesting
there was considerable consensus among farmers.
“We’ve talked about it for long enough. We have all the supporting reports – initiated
in recent times as part of the Red Meat Sector Strategy Report. I want to get on and
help make it happen now. The steps we need to take are clear.
“Firstly, Alliance Group needs to lead the consolidation. Secondly, we should be
encouraging other parties to join this consolidation. Thirdly, as farmer shareholders
we need to come together to create one well resourced co-operative capable of
attracting the vast majority of supply. This will deliver the global scale needed to both
right-size the industry’s processing assets and to achieve the international leverage
to improve returns.”
Dr. Bell accepts that achieving this will require committed supply from suppliers to
their co-op as the transition takes place.
“Looking at MIE’s report of preliminary findings, it’s clear that a good number of
farmers understand this. Almost half of farmers said they would sign a contract for a
set amount of time and a further 20% said they were open to the idea.
“This is the only way to ensure that farmers are rewarded for their hard work behind
the farm gate and to build a sustainable, profitable industry for the long term.
“If elected to the Board, through my dogged determination I’m going to make sure
our co-op takes definite steps towards restructuring and consolidating our industry.
The opportunities in the global market are real. The prize for the red meat sector is
too big for us to miss out on.”
7 October 2014
As a farmer, business owner with networks in China, vet and active member of the
red meat industry through various consultancy and investment projects, Dr. Bell is
bringing to the table skills and experience that can help guide Alliance.
These include: experience right across the value chain; a focus on finding solutions
that cut through issues and deliver results; getting people working together and
drawing on best practice and innovation; and a commitment to high standards of
governance.
Dr. Bell says that as Alliance shareholders we have to remember we have two
businesses: our farms and our co-op. We need to run our co-op as well as we do our
farms.
“I want to make sure that shareholders have control of the co-op and that it is
delivering solid long-term profitability across the entire value chain. We can then
have confidence to invest in our farms and we will have control of our future.”
In standing for election Dr. Bell has resigned from her position on the Meat Industry
Excellence executive committee. This is effective as of today.
For more information please call Mandy Bell – 027 443 4250
Mandy Bell’s CV details

Since 1992 co-owner of Criffel Station, Wanaka – a commercial venison
producer, beef/lamb fattening, dairy grazing, velvet herd and deer stud operation
plus weddings and events venue.

Director and shareholder of:
o Jeremy Bell Investments Ltd (2007 - present); farming business
o AgResourced Ltd (2007 - present); investment and consultancy business
o Chairman of Criffel Water Ltd – (2014 - present); irrigation scheme
o Animal Remedies Ltd (2007 - present); wholesaler of animal health
products
– Myfarmstore Ltd, ivet Ltd, subsidiaries of Animal Remedies Ltd
(2008 - present); websites and supply chain IT company in the
farming industry
o Veterinary Products Limited (2014 – present); importer of animal health
products
o Otakaro Pathways (2013 - present); biotech company

Chairman of Deer Industry NZ programme; Passion to Profit – industry group
responsible for a review of profitability and implementation of recommendations
for the deer industry across the value chain from market to behind the farm gate.
Business case is currently being developed for the Ministry of Primary Industries’
Primary Growth Partnership funding. Implementation of recommendations from a
30 member industry group.

Johne’s Disease Research Consortium – (2010 - present); director; pan-industry
body with farmers, industry and scientists working to reduce Johne’s Disease in
NZ

Judge for the Lincoln South Island Farmer of the Year awards (2013 – present)
7 October 2014

Previous roles
o Owner of a primary produce business supplying product to multinationals,
supermarkets and corporates. Responsible for operations.
o Executive Committee Member of Meat Industry Excellence group
o Co-founded Johne’s Research Group and collaboration with farmers, New
Zealand Deer Industry branches, veterinary scientists and veterinary
practitioners to support and promote formative and applied research, and
solutions for farmers.
o Co-founded a national database to track Johne’s disease lesions in deer
at all slaughter premises in New Zealand. In 2007 established a Board of
Directors to manage the database going forward.
o Initiated ‘Deer Progeny Test’ with Alliance Group Ltd, Deer Industry NZ
and chaired the programme.
o Branch Chairman of New Zealand Deer Farmers Association (2003 2005)
o Founded the Montessori pre-school as a charitable trust in Wanaka and
worked as a Trustee and Chairman for 5 years.

Recipient of the National Deer Industry Award 2011

Education:
o Harvard Agribusiness Course (2013)
o Institute of Directors and other governance courses
o Postgraduate Diploma, Small Animal Medicine from Sydney University
(1992)
o Bachelor Veterinary Science from Massey University (1982 – 1986)

Married to Jerry and mother of three children Penelope, Henry and Jemima.