MPI defends cost of new biosecurity lab
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
It will be funded from the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund for the project.
Apiculture NZ chief executive Karin Kos says the project's aim is to establish a strategic direction for NZ's apiculture sector by identifying 'actionable measures to enable sustainable value growth'.
"The sector experienced huge growth following the quick escalation in demand from international consumers for New Zealand's mānuka honey," Kos explains. "But in many ways the sector's response to meet that new demand has been unsustainable. Now is the time to understand how we can capitalise on the opportunities that have emerged, but at a rate that can be lasting, both for participants and the environment."
She says the honey industry welcomes the Government's support to help it realise that goal.
The work will look at opportunities to capture more value at all levels of the sector and understand what type of transformation, capability and innovation will be required to capture that value sustainably.
Kos says the funding will not only help to prepare a plan but support the initial implementation of projects deemed to be vital to delivering sustainable growth.
