increase font size
Jo-Anne Stokes
Jo-Anne Stokes has been appointed as Animal and Plant Health NZ’s new technical adviser – crop protection.
The role will see Stokes help Animal and Plant Health NZ members tackle the hurdles associated with bringing innovative solutions to New Zealand to manage pests and diseases.
Stokes derived an appreciation for these tools in her biosecurity role for the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), where she managed treatments for pests and diseases intercepted at the border.
“It is vital for Aotearoa to have the most effective options for managing 15,000 pests and diseases considered direct threats to our economy, environment and way of life,” she says.
“I’ve seen first-hand what can happen when an unwelcome pest or disease invades our country,” she says.
Climate change and resistance to treatments will likely see these threats evolve.
“Animal and Plant Health members play a vital role in managing pests and protecting our food security. I am excited to be helping them navigate complex regulatory requirements as they develop innovative solutions for protecting New Zealand’s land-based economies – now and for the future”.
In her 14 years with MPI, Stokes was instrumental in developing a programme to ensure imports are treated before arriving on New Zealand’s shores, as well as meeting requirements for exporting goods.
Before that, she held technical and policy-based roles at Federated Farmers and Rural Women NZ.
She is no stranger to getting her gumboots dirty – having managed farming operations in dairy, beef and horticulture locally and overseas.
. Her combined background has taught her that “there aren't enough tools to eradicate pests and diseases to protect our whenua for the next generation".
With an amendment to the Medicines Act proposing human medicines could be approved in 30 days if the product has approval from two recognised overseas jurisdictions, there’s a call for a similar approach where possible to be applied to some animal medicines.
Animal and Plant Health Association NZ says it welcomes a review of regulations "hampering NZ agriculture's ability to keep pace with the rest of the world".
OPINION: The agricultural sector is facing a crisis, with forecasts for registering innovative animal and crop health products hitting an all-time low.
Animal and Plant Plant Health New Zealand has appointed Dr Liz Shackleton as its new chief executive.
Dr Liz Shackleton has been appointed chief executive of Animal and Plant Health New Zealand.
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.
