Biosecurity tops priorities for agribusiness leaders - report
Biosecurity remains the top priority for agribusiness leaders, according to KPMG’s 2025 Agribusiness Agenda released last week.
National's 2015 Budget has allocated extra funding to strengthen animal welfare systems and biosecurity.
A $10 million package over four years will bolster New Zealand's animal welfare systems, according to Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.
"This investment will support changes in the new Animal Welfare Amendment Act, which passed into law this month. These changes have made animal welfare obligations clearer, more transparent and easier to enforce.
"They will also ensure New Zealand is well placed to maintain its strong reputation and world class animal welfare system into the future," Guy says.
The new funding will go towards:
• Developing new regulations through the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.
• Improving compliance and enforcement capability.
• Managing the welfare of animals in a civil defence emergency.
Biosecurity funding will also be boosted by $24.9 million over four years, in addition to $2 million of capital funding, to increase our border capabilities.
Minister Guy says the new funding will be used for a range of new biosecurity initiatives, including:
• Improving New Zealand's import health standards to ensure they continue to keep pace with changing science and focus on our highest priority risks.
• Greater auditing of other countries' systems to ensure they are compliant with New Zealand's unique biosecurity requirements.
• Expanding our biosecurity detector dog capacity to manage risk at the border.
• Introducing more x-ray machines to allow for faster screening of increasing passenger volumes.
"This funding will supplement the recently-launched Biosecurity 2025 project, which will provide a clear direction for the biosecurity system and identify any changes or improvements needed over the next 10 years," Guy says.
Labour's agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton says while New Zealand needs more housing, sacrificing our best farmland to get there is not the answer.
Profitability issues facing arable farmers are the same across the world, says New Zealand's special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr.
Over 85% of Fonterra farmer suppliers will be eligible for customer funding up to $1,500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity.
Tighter beef and lamb production globally have worked to the advantage of NZ, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
Groundswell is ramping up its 'Quit Paris' campaign with signs going up all over the country.
Some farmers in the Nelson region are facing up to five years of hard work to repair their damaged properties caused by the recent devastating floods.
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