Wednesday, 21 June 2023 16:55

Food supply relies on govt support for rural sector

Written by  Staff Reporters
Animal and Plant Health NZ chief executive Mark Ross. Animal and Plant Health NZ chief executive Mark Ross.

Animal and Plant Health NZ chief executive Mark Ross says the Government needs to step up efforts to support the rural sector so that all Kiwis can access safe, healthy and affordable food.

“The farming sector has been hit by natural disasters, over-regulation, and pests that can wipe out harvests in one hit, yet it provides us with most of the food on our plates,” Ross says.

“In return, farmers suffer arduous regulations, delays in accessing technology and biosecurity incursions,” he says.

The latest biosecurity threat to hit New Zealand’s shores was the Fall armyworm, which farmers overseas have been fighting for several years.

Ross says New Zealand needs to act faster and smarter against biosecurity threats.

“If our neighbours are at war with a pest incursion, we should be ready to tackle it and offer a leg up to farmers.

“It’s pointless joining the battleground without a weapon.”

Animal and Plant Health NZ has released a manifesto, providing actions the Government can take.

They want to see an increase in research and development for food production, the adoption of genetic technology, and the implementation of a faster system for registering products against biosecurity threats.

“This will protect our $7 billion horticultural industry and $39 billion animal protein market from devastating losses,” says Ross.

More like this

Call to fast-track animal medicines approval

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.

'A game changer'

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".

Let's continue to innovate

OPINION: The agricultural sector is facing a crisis, with forecasts for registering innovative animal and crop health products hitting an all-time low.

Featured

NZEI unhappy with funding cut for teachers

Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa says that while educators will support the Government’s investment in learning support, they’re likely to be disappointed that it has been paid for by defunding expert teachers.

EU regulations unfairly threaten $200m exports

A European Union regulation ensuring that the products its citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide threatens $200m of New Zealand beef and leather exports.

Bionic Plus back on vet clinic shelves

A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.

National

Machinery & Products

New Holland combines crack 50 years

New Holland is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the introduction its Twin Rotor threshing and separation technology, which has evolved…

Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

The company behind the iconic TPW Woolpress, which fundamentally changed the way wool is baled in Australia and New Zealand,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Double standards

OPINION: Imagine if the Hound had called the Minister of Finance the 'c-word' and accused her of "girl math".

Debt monster

OPINION: It's good news that Finance Minister Nicola Willis has slashed $1.1 billion from new spending, citing "a seismic global…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter