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Franklin and the horticulture industry are mourning the loss of a true industry leader.
Dr Stuart Ian Davis died on December 10, aged 66.
Vegetables New Zealand board chair John Murphy said Davis’ contribution is hugely respected throughout the industry.
“This is tough news. Stuart will be remembered as a highly influential figure in New Zealand’s vegetable sector for more than 35 years, known for consistently turning science and practical on-farm experience into real-world improvements for growers and the environment.
“We will miss Stuart’s sharp wit and genuine care for people. His ambition and drive for the vegetable industry to genuinely do better can’t be understated.
“In particular, Stuart was an avid champion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), promoting systems that protect crops while reducing reliance on broad-spectrum controls and supporting long-term environmental outcomes.”
Horticulture New Zealand board chair Bernadine Guilleux said Davis’s contribution to the industry has been immense.
“Stuart was the 2024 winner of the Bledisloe Cup, New Zealand’s highest horticulture honour, recognising outstanding and meritorious contribution to the industry.
“That reflected what growers and industry leaders long knew. That Stuart helped shape a smarter, more sustainable future for vegetable growing in New Zealand. We valued his wisdom, calm leadership and relentless focus on improvement.”
Beginning in the 1980s, Davis pioneered the commercial use of mathematical crop prediction models for sweetcorn and other vegetable crops in collaboration with Crop & Food Research and NIWA. This groundbreaking work helped lay the foundation for today’s close partnership between science and the vegetable industry.
LeaderBrand chief executive Richard McPhail said his scientific knowledge, his environmental drive, and commercial pragmatism were a winning formula.
“There are few leaders who have had the impact and have driven as much change for our industry as Stuart. His fingerprints will last for decades to come. We have all been extremely fortunate to have had his wise counsel.”
Davis started his career in the Wattie’s group, then moved to LeaderBrand in Gisborne, before returning home to Pukekohe as LeaderBrand’s sustainability manager.
He also championed the industry and dedicated his time for more than 10 years as a director of Vegetables NZ, chaired the Vegetable Research & Innovation Board, helping co-ordinate research investment across multiple vegetable product groups and played a key role in shaping “A Lighter Touch”.
“There is nothing Stuart didn’t know about growing vegetables … He had a dogged determination to make the industry more productive and better for the environment. He often did the work that others didn’t want to do, but he knew that the long-term effects would outlive us all.
“Stuart gave us the momentum and the tools to change farming systems towards more sustainable practices without losing economic benefits.
“People in our team and the wider industry sought out Stuart’s sage advice and counsel. He was the expert leader in numerous aspects of horticulture. He was always generous with his time and considered with his recommendations. His connections were extensive, and his projects were extensive across LeaderBrand and the entire sector, always balancing both,” he said.
Davis worked for LeaderBrand for more than 25 years. In this time, he managed technical and operational areas at LeaderBrand Gisborne before moving to the Pukekohe farm to ensure the company’s environmental projects were on track and getting done. He managed everything from the Regenerative Farming Project, riparian planting, biodiversity project, emissions, nitrogen, as well as water efficiency projects, and so much more.
After receiving The Bledisloe Cup in 2024, he was awarded Horticulture New Zealand Life Membership earlier this year.
“Most of all, Stuart was an extremely proud father to Michael and Simon. He was always telling colleagues about his boy’s success, whether it was Michael competing in Taekwondo and, more recently, in video game development. Or Simon’s performing arts. He was also immensely proud that Simon was with him on the night he was awarded the Bledisloe Cup.
“He also loved music and was a passionate sports fan. He had a very dry wit, always with a quick one-liner. Stuart was an all-round top bloke. We will all miss him,” McPhail said.
