MPI defends PGP extension

 At BLG’s recent Sheep Breeders’ Forum in Dunedin Kelly said PGPs wouldn’t succeed “until we crack the technology transfer problem.” (Rural News, Oct 21).

That implies a lack of technology transferring from PGP programmes, which is not the case, says MPI’s PGP director Justine Gilliland.

“Technology transfer is one of the areas that we focus on in PGP programmes,” she told Rural News.

“In fact, many PGP programmes are actively focussed on this, such as Clearview Innovations, Transforming the Dairy Value Chain, the Red Meat Profit Partnership, NZ Avocados Go Global and the New Zealand Sheep Industry Transformation programme.

“These programmes are ensuring that growers and others have access to usable information, data, knowledge, tools and services and support to enable their businesses to succeed. 

“For example, the FarmIQ System is connecting farmers more directly with their processor and consumers, as well as helping them to drive farm performance.”

Gilliland says MPI has also facilitated discussions across and among PGP programmes about technology transfer and other topics, to “leverage outcomes using the collective knowledge of programmes.”

A standard framework for technology transfer across PGPs helps information and knowledge sharing, she adds.

An MPI-commissioned independent report on PGPs by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research earlier this year concluded that current and future PGPs will deliver about $6.4 billion/year growth in GDP from 2025, points out Gilliland.

And if all innovations are adopted widely, and aspirations of programmes reached, an extra $4.7 billion is possible.

“The PGP is making good progress in enabling technology transfer from PGP programmes to the primary industry sectors, and this is supported by increasing collaboration among and between PGP programmes.”