Billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson has said that New Zealand farmers should grow cannabis instead of expanding dairy operations.
Branson was in the country over the weekend to speak at a charity event.
In an interview with New Zealand's Newshub, he predicted cannabis would become more acceptable in the near future.
Branson urged the country to legalise and grow cannabis at the expense of slowing the dairy industry there down.
He said: "I think that would be wonderful because obviously the amount of dairy cows that New Zealand has is damaging the rivers, if you could put some of that land over into growing cannabis would be just as profitable for them, if not more profitable."
'Farmers welcome any opportunity'
Federated Farmers, New Zealand's farming organisation which lobbies on behalf of its members, said they would look at it if it was legal and profitable.
National president William Rolleston told Newshub: "Farmers welcome any opportunity to add another string to their bow, and would look at that option only if it was legal and profitable to do so... But that is a long way down the track," he said.
Agriculture is a big player in the New Zealand economy, and has recently been blamed for the increasing pollution of the country's rivers and waterways.
However, it is reported that New Zealand's dairy farmers have spent billions of dollars in combating river pollution.
