Uruguayan President Dr Tabare Vazquez took time out from a whirlwind seven-hour visit to Christchurch today (13 November) to present a gift to one of his country’s old friends, New Zealand’s doyen of farm management education Sir James Stewart of Amberley.
Sir James, who is Lincoln University’s Emeritus Professor of Farm Management, had a long research and consultancy association with Uruguay during his career as an academic, starting with an FAO assignment in 1975.
He along with other Lincoln University staff members contributed to the evolution of agricultural systems in Uruguay through the Plan Agropecuario which guided the development of farming in Uruguay at the time.
Today in Uruguay Sir James is a revered figure in agricultural circles, well remembered for his contribution to the country’s agrarian economy.
The gift for Sir James was in the form of a large presentation agate, a mineral characteristic of Uruguay.
Lincoln University was the sole official South Island port of call for Dr Vazquez during his three-day visit to New Zealand, the first by a Uruguayan President. He visited the University’s dairy farm, heard presentations about the capabilities of the University, AgResearch and PGG Wrightson, and after lunch on the campus visited the Biotron facility operated by the University-based National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies.
At the end of his visit he assured Vice-Chancellor Professor Roger Field that Lincoln University had a “true friend” in Uruguay.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Ian Collins
Communications Group
Lincoln University
Tel: +64 3 325 2811 ext 8549
Mobile: 021 02449637
Email: collinsi@lincoln.ac.nz