Top ag scientist to advise PM
A highly experienced agricultural scientist with specialist knowledge of the dairy sector is the Prime Minister's new Chief Science Advisor.
That's the word from Ray Smith, the Director General of MPI, who's just returned from a visit to China where he met with three of his counterparts in the Chinese government who deal with agriculture, rural affairs, customs and importing of infant formula.
He says his engagement with these top influential government officials could not have been warmer and says both parties are working closely together to improve both our respective systems and trading relationships.
"I think what we must remember about the Chinese economy is that there are hundreds of thousands of people growing into the middle class as we speak. So we just have to be involved in China for the long run," he says.
Smith says the Chinese economy is slowly lifting after the challenges of the Covid pandemic. This he says has seen Chinese consumers acquiring conservative spending patterns but says this will ease over time.
He says NZ is dealing with a massive market and there will be dips along the way, but China will come back, and this will drag prices back up.
He notes that in recent weeks the GDT prices have been positive.
"The world needs protein and there are more consumers wanting it and just remember that China is one of the world's largest economies. China is coming back it'll take a bit of time and it's not what happens this year it's what will happen over the next five years," he says.
