WSP: Helping navigate the storm

WSP: HELPING NAVIGATE WSP: Helping navigate the storm THE STORM Severe weather events generated by climate change are not the only storms on the horizon for the In parallel to these challenges, local regulators are caught up in their own storm, navigating their To take advantage of these opportunities, growers, industry horticulture sector. We are facing way through a series of waves from bodies and regulators will need to a convergence of fast-moving central government that will also work together and communicate Severe weather events generated by climate Heavy enforcement of blanket regulations can cause fronts that will rock our boats: hit at different times. openly with each other. Regulators change are not the only storms on the horizon for the horticulture sector. We are facing a convergence of fast-moving fronts that will rock our boats: growing consumer demands, changes and challenges in the labour market, perverse incentives, limiting innovation or causing damage to growers trying to do the right thing. So many different shapes and sizes of growers, so many crops, so many different levels of formal organisation and recording! There is just no easy one size fits all solution. So how can we drive ourselves as a sector to grow more growing consumer demands, changes and challenges in the labour market, water availability and infrastructure needs – and increasingly stringent environmental regulations. In this context, sustainability is In most cases best practice standards to look after our environment and people are now well recognised across the industry. But implementing regulations to drive positive change is challenging in such a diverse sector. need to understand what is important to growers – and growers can help provide solutions that work to regulators. WSP offers a range of expertise to help meet the challenges facing water availability and infrastructure needs – and increasingly stringent environmental regulations. In this context, sustainability is synonymous with survival. But what does sustainability mean to New Zealand growers and an expanding sector? Perceptions of sustainability are increasingly driven by consumers and the market, and enforced by regulation and market standards. Growing with sustainability at front of mind is now expected and required. Opting out is no longer an option. sustainably and turn a profit, while also facing these multiple waves of challenges? Change provides an opportunity to adapt and re-think what, where, who, and why we grow. Diversification and innovation can help us become more resilient. There is increasingly opportunity to shift focus from high yield, to high quality, value-added products with a sustainable story to tell. To take advantage of these opportunities, growers, industry bodies and regulators will need to work together synonymous with survival. But what does sustainability mean to New Zealand growers and an expanding sector? Perceptions of sustainability are increasingly driven by consumers and the market, and enforced by regulation and market standards. Growing with sustainability at front of mind is now expected and required. Opting out is no longer an option. Heavy enforcement of blanket regulations can cause perverse incentives, limiting innovation or causing damage to growers trying to do the right thing. So many different shapes and sizes of growers, so many crops, so many different levels of formal organisation and recording! There is just no easy one size fits all solution. So how can we drive ourselves as both regulators and growers. We have practical understanding and experience with growing, and knowledge of tools such as Overseer and council processes as well as facilitation and relationship management skills. We are ready to help the horticulture sector weather these storms, and flourish in the fertile ground they will bring in their wake. The decisions that we make must not only consider how we look after our land, water and atmosphere, but also how we treat our staff and communities, how we handle and communicate openly with each other. Regulators need to understand what is important to growers – and growers can help provide solutions that work to regulators. The decisions that we make must not only consider how we look after our land, water and atmosphere, a sector to grow more sustainably and turn a profit, while also facing these multiple waves of challenges? and package our products, and what we do with our WSP offers a range of expertise to help meet the but also how we treat our staff and Change provides an opportunity waste streams. communities, how we handle and challenges facing both regulators and growers. We to adapt and re-think what, In parallel to these challenges, local regulators are caught up in their own storm, navigating their way through a series of waves from central government that will also hit have practical understanding and experience with growing, and knowledge of tools such as Overseer and council processes as well as facilitation and relationship package our products, and what we do with our waste streams. where, who, and why we grow. Diversification and innovation can help us become more resilient. at different times. In most cases best practice standards to look after our environment and people are now well recognised across management skills. We are ready to help the horticulture sector weather these storms, and flourish in the fertile ground they will bring in their wake. There is increasingly opportunity to shift focus from high yield, to high quality, value-added products with a sustainable story to tell. Lisa Arnold Primary Industries Consultant the industry. But implementing regulations to drive Lisa Arnold, Primary Industries Consultant – Horticulture - Horticulture positive change is challenging in such a diverse sector. T: +64 2 187 8102, E: lisa.arnold@wsp.comT: +64 2 187 8102 W: wsp.com/nz/ruralserviceslisa.arnold@wsp.com

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