3 minute read
Onions NZ Inc
TRANSITIONING THE NEW ZEALAND
ONION INDUSTRY FROM HUMBLE TO HERO
Words by Brittany McCloy : Onions NZ Inc.
Onions New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have entered into a partnership under the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFFF). This will be the first sector accelerator partnership with the MPI.
This partnership will invest in the differentiation and resiliency of New Zealand Onion exports over the next six years. Onions New Zealand would like to acknowledge the co-funding of $2.8 million committed by MPI.
High Level detail
• Six-year research programme with joint industrygovernment funding, which started 1 July 2021 • $6.02 million investment over the life of the programme • Three key themes of work which encompass ten workstreams • Ultimate goal is greater market diversification for the industry and increased value from onions exported.
What is ‘Humble to Hero’?
This programme is made up of ten projects across the value chain. Together, they will be transformational for the onion industry. The projects fall within three themes: A Market validation and diversification: Centred on identifying and opening up high-value export markets.
This theme will reduce the industry’s dependency on the European Union and Indonesia. This will involve gathering information on potential markets, gaining or improving regulatory access, developing and validating markets.
B Enabling value: Focusing on making the New Zealand onion sector more robust. This is the linchpin of our future market access. Acknowledging that globally, consumers and governments are demanding greater accountability from the food system. The projects in this theme will enhance the story of New Zealand onions with verifiable food safety credentials, robust industry information and understanding the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.
C Capturing value: Adding value to New Zealand onions by understanding consumer demands, identifying unique attributes, exploring options to reduce waste and telling the story of New Zealand onions.
Who benefits from this work?
This research has been developed around industry input and participation and is designed to be industry-led and implemented. All 85 grower members and 20 exporter members will benefit from this programme of work, although impacts will vary depending on involvement, adoption and market orientation of production. Although this is an exportorientated research programme, the outcomes will create positive impacts for all growers, including but not limited to: • Increased market access • The ability to measure and report production level sustainability credentials to meet both domestic and international regulations and market requirements • Developing and implementing an industry food safety assurance programme, which will be used to maintain market access offshore and meet growing compliance as an industry for domestic policy • An all of industry review of current waste streams and what opportunities exist to minimise waste streams or create value from them.
Overseeing the transition
Onions New Zealand has absorbed the programme management internally, with Brittany McCloy named programme manager. The partnership is governed by a joint MPI – Industry-specific Governances group, with three industry members (Kelvin Bezuidenhout, Guy Hilson and Tristan Balle), an MPI representative and independent chairman, Tony Ponder.
The New Zealand onion sector currently exports approximately 200,000 metric tonnes per annum worth $150 million FOB. Onions are New Zealand’s third most valuable horticulture export behind kiwifruit and apples. This programme of work will support further growth and resilience in export earnings.
