Editorial: Happy days
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) has received $212,500 from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund, to go towards developing a three-year organic sector strategy.
The project was costed at $376k and OANZ says that MPI’s contribution is extremely welcome.
“The sector’s collective buy-in, along with MPI’s funding for this strategy is instrumental in advancing the sector,” says OANZ chief executive Viv Williams.
“The strategy will look at how the organic sector can on one hand increase consumer demand, and on the other increase the share of organic produce, products and supporting the organic sector ecosystem that makes up the economy.”
Through its strategy, OANZ says it intends to identify shared challenges and opportunities; strengthen the evidence base for action; find consensus upon a vision for the sector; and set out actions for the sector’s transformation and growth within its domestic and international contexts.
“It is crucial for the sector to be able to bring forward issues and ideas to government that are grounded in the realities of the sector.
MPI investment programmes director Steve Penno says OANZ represents the majority of the organic sector and is well-placed to deliver this work.
“An organic strategy will act as an important tool to unify the sector and enable it to respond collectively to challenges and opportunities,” he says.
New Zealand potato growers are prioritising value creation from high yields to meet a complex mix of challenges and opportunities, says Potatoes NZ chief executive Kate Trufitt.
A Hawke's Bay apple orchardist supports the Government's objective of doubling exports but says this won't happen in the horticulture sector unless there's a change in the process for bringing new plant material into the country.
Canterbury arable farmers are down by tens of millions of dollars after a rollercoaster of wild changeable January weather saw harvests delayed and some crops destroyed by violent hailstorms.
Could a breakthrough in fermentation create a new multi-million-dollar export market for shiitake mushroom extracts into China?
Meadow Fresh has created the world's first fantasy sports league powered by real cows.
This year, 'Foodie February' sees potatoes take the spotlight as one of New Zealand's most powerful and versatile food heroes.

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