Push to speed up agrichemical approvals in NZ
A move is underway to make the Wellington bureaucracy speed up the approval process for certain agrichemicals that farmers and growers are desperate to get their hands on.
Animal and Plant Plant Health New Zealand has appointed Dr Liz Shackleton as its new chief executive.
She takes up her new role on October 30.
Shackleton has been leading the DairyNZ Biosecurity team, including the Mycoplasma bovis Programme team since 2018, and held leadership roles in the pharmaceutical sector after starting her career as a rural veterinarian.
She is a chartered member of the NZ Institute of Directors and a board member of the NZ Veterinary Council.
“I’ve been privileged to spend my career supporting the primary sector - from gumboots to boardroom - and am passionate about the important role it plays for New Zealand,” she says.
The primary sector generates $55 billion in export earnings, and the membership association works closely with government agencies, industry groups, and other stakeholders, to help bring the necessary innovations to manage pests and diseases so that NZ food can be grown sustainably, efficiently and effectively.
Co-president of Animal and Plant Health NZ, Vanessa Macdonald, says Shackleton will be instrumental in implementing the recently rebranded organisation’s strategy which prioritises safeguarding the sustainability of agriculture through ensuring the health of crops and animals.
“Liz’s leadership will empower New Zealand’s farmers and growers with innovative solutions and best practices, reinforcing their position as frontrunners in producing safe, healthy, and sustainable food for a discerning global market,” adds Macdonald.
Shackleton is excited about the opportunity to lead the organisation, given the critical role that healthy crops and animals play in safeguarding our sustainability.
“Growing our people, credible science and supportive regulations all play a key role in bringing innovative solutions to the market for members. I look forward to continuing to build on the good work Mark Ross and team have done so far.”
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.