Joanna Hoogenboom

For Joanna Hoogenboom, the path to agronomy has been shaped by a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, rural leadership, and the belief that Aotearoa’s food and fibre sector can lead the world — not just in quality, but in sustainability. 

Today, she’s a Graduate Agronomist with Pāmu based in Canterbury, where she works with farm teams to improve pasture performance, support crop planning, and ensure land use practices that honour both productivity and the environment. 

Joanna’s journey began in rural Central Hawke’s Bay, where her passion for agriculture began to grow. That early interest led her to study a Bachelor of Environmental Management, majoring in Water Management at Lincoln University. 

While at university, Joanna was an active member of the Horticulture Society, Lincoln Young Farmers, and NZIPIM, where she played a key role in promoting engagement among young people — both on-farm and within rural professional roles — helping to build a stronger future for Aotearoa’s food and fibre sector. 

“Graduating was a proud moment, I’m excited to work with the amazing people I studied alongside, to make Aotearoa’s food and fibre sector the most sustainable and quality-focused in the world.”

Joanna brings a broad and practical skill set to her role at Pāmu — combining on-the-ground farming and compliance experience with an emerging voice in industry commentary. Her diverse background includes roles with Landpro, Ngāi Tahu Farming, AsureQuality, and Silver Fern Farms. 

At Landpro, she worked as a Graduate Farm Environmental Consultant and Planner, supporting farmers to meet environmental regulations while developing strong skills in on-farm assurance and resource planning. 

Joanna is known for rolling up her sleeves, embracing new skills and perspectives, and building strong connections across the food and fibre sector. During her time at university, she also contributed to wider industry discussions — including writing for Country-Wide magazine, where she shared a youth perspective on her studies and her tour of Brazil’s agribusiness sector through the Prime Minister’s Scholarship. 

Now part of Pāmu’s Graduate Agronomist Programme, Joanna is focused on the interplay between agronomic practices and environmental systems — from soil structure and nutrient flow to water planning and climate adaptation. 

“I’m especially interested in how the environment, livestock, and pasture systems interact. Agronomy has such a critical role in long-term resilience.” 

Joanna is an active member of GrowHer Canterbury, a network supporting young women in the primary industries. She’s passionate about helping others see what’s possible, especially in spaces where women have traditionally been underrepresented. 

“Being part of GrowHer is about connection and visibility. It’s about backing each other to succeed and showing that there’s space for us at every table — and in every paddock.” 

Whether it’s researching new cropping strategies or supporting farmers to meet future challenges, Joanna’s career is already making an impact — and she’s just getting started.