Dairy sheep have been suggested as an alternative to the standard dairy cows in Taranaki.

The world's rapidly expanding population needs more food and experts are encouraging Taranaki farmers to take advantage of the growing demand by diversifying food production away from the "white gold" of milk and into other areas.

Dairy sheep, floriculture - the growing of flowers such as orchids - and cheesemaking have all been put forward as ways of boosting the amount of food the region produces.

"New Zealand is the size of Italy, yet Italy feeds a domestic population of 60 million people and exports twice as much food and beverage as New Zealand," said Eve Kawana-Brown, organiser of the Food Futures Conference, which is being held at the Devon Hotel this Friday.

Those taking part will include speakers from Massey University, Food HQ, New Zealand Food Innovation Network and Federated Farmers.

Massey director of business engagement and Food HQ program director Mark Ward said there were a number of opportunities for people in Taranaki to expand small family businesses.

"We really want to see the smaller business size up and not stay small," he said. "Taranaki has quite a lot of entrepreneurial, well connected people."

Ward is delivering the keynote speech alongside Massey Vice-Chancellor, Steve Maharey.

Maharey said Taranaki had natural advantages and a reputation as a top food producer and product innovator, something that could be built on increase food output.

"Food is and will remain one of the biggest issues of the century," Maharey said. "In simple terms, the world needs more food, and better food, sustainably produced.

"As a food producing nation, New Zealand has a tremendous opportunity to make the most of the food revolution by moving what it does best up the value change."

Conference organiser Eve Kawana-Brown agreed, and said Taranaki was well invested in growing, producing and exporting food.

"It's about encouraging and supporting diversification and growth of new food orientated industry, because the world is demanding more and more food," she said.

"We could become a key supplier of nutritious food to a global population of nine billion people by 2050, and in recent years our wine, honey, aquaculture and avocado industries have emerged into world-leading sectors."

She said Taranaki should be diversifying.

"You drive around other regions and you drive around here and I was amazed there was nothing growing here, just grass with cows on it. And it's still pretty much the same, yet you can grow anything here.

"We know we have significant landholdings, capability and capacity for a vibrant food and beverage economy."

She said there was significant potential for Taranaki and the rest of the region to play a big part in food supply to the rest of the world.