Politicians attending the annual Red Meat Sector Conference in Dunedin pulled no punches about challenges facing the industry, but also strongly supported its positive role in the country's future.
The seventh annual conference was jointly hosted by the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand, and Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd.
A political party forum was one of the opening events, held at the Silver Fern Farms corporate office last night.
Politicians were invited to outline their vision for the meat industry.
New Zealand First agriculture spokesman Richard Prosser said the party strongly supported the industry and said there had been too much inaccurate talk of ''dirty dairying''.
Mr Prosser also later answered a question from the floor over possible support for the Trans Pacific Partnership 11, a proposed continuation of the earlier trade deal, but in the absence of the United States.
New Zealand needed to be more hard-nosed, in ensuring that its international trading interests were properly advanced, he said.
Labour primary industries spokesman Damien O'Connor also highlighted the industry's strong benefits, but warned of biosecurity and other challenges, including the recent detection of Mycoplasma bovis disease on a South Canterbury farm.
New Zealand should not simply be exporting meat but offering an eating experience chosen by the ''world's most discerning consumers'', he said.
Rangitikei National MP Ian McKelvie acknowledged the industry still faced some ''huge challenges'', but it was ''amazing'' how far it had progressed and he remained optimistic about the future.
Green spokeswoman for environment and agriculture Eugenie Sage said that agricultural production had a positive role, but had to be sustainable, there was a desire for higher environmental standards on both land and water.
Award-winning high country farmer David Crutchley, who farms near Naseby, said, during a question and answer session, that genuine sustainability should include farmers and their families finding ways to avoid excessive financial pressures, and the need to take second jobs to survive.