Friday, 12 February 2021 13:25

OANZ receives MPI funding for organic sector strategy

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Organics Aotearoa New Zealand have received funding from MPI to develop a new sector strategy.

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.

More like this

MPI’s Diana Reaich: Building global trade relationships

Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.

Gene Bill rumours

OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of GM.

Bikinis in cowshed

OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.

Editorial: Support, don't stifle farmers

OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.

Editorial: Agri's mojo is back

OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.

Featured

2026 Meat Industry Association scholarship applications open

Applications have now opened for the 2026 Meat Industry Association scholarships.

Bank of New Zealand launches First Farm initiative

Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through a new initiative designed to make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking easier.

Editorial: Credit where it's due

OPINION: While farmers are busy and diligently doing their best to deal with unwanted gasses, the opponents of farming - namely the Greens and their mates - are busy polluting the atmosphere with tirades of hot air about what farmers supposedly aren't doing.

Methane emission target reset

OPINION: For close to eight years now, I have found myself talking about methane quite a lot.

Royal A&P Show Returns to Canterbury: Record livestock entries and renewed prestige

The Royal A&P Show of New Zealand, hosted by the Canterbury A&P Association, is back next month, bigger and better after the uncertainty of last year.

Farmers Lead Sustainability Push: Woodchip bioreactor cuts nitrate runoff in Manawatu

Claims that farmers are polluters of waterways and aquifers and 'don't care' still ring out from environmental groups and individuals. The phrase 'dirty dairying' continues to surface from time to time. But as reporter Peter Burke points out, quite the opposite is the case. He says, quietly and behind the scenes, farmers are embracing new ideas and technologies to make their farms sustainable, resilient, environmentally friendly and profitable.