Otago farming leader Rob Lawson has spent the past two weeks investigating one of New Zealand and Australia's largest supermarket chains as one of 30 participants in the Woolworths Agricultural Business Scholarship Programme in Sydney.
Mr Lawson, who runs a family sheep and cattle farm at Waikouaiti, was the only participant from outside Australia and the first New Zealander to attend the programme in the three years it has been run.
The Woolworth's programme is run in conjunction with the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales and the University of Western Sydney, and during the two weeks participants hear from senior Woolworth's staff and external experts, visit stores and distribution networks and complete group and course work.
"The vast majority of Woolworths fresh produce is sourced domestically, so it makes sense for tomorrow's agricultural leaders to get an insight into what makes a supermarket tick, so those successful partnerships continue long into the future," said Woolworth's supermarket director Greg Foran in a statement.
Mr Lawson is a director of meat company Silver Fern Farms, the Otago chairman of the meat and fibre section of Federated Farmers and a former captain of the Otago cricket team.
He was nominated for the Woolworth's programme by Federated Farmers.
Woolworths own Progressive Enterprises, one of New Zealand's largest supermarket chains.