Working together into 2022

By Ray Smith : MPI director-general

I’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the horticulture sector for your continued efforts to supply nutritious produce across New Zealand and overseas, contributing significantly to export revenue, and keeping your families, staff and communities safe from Covid-19.

I’d also like to acknowledge Horticulture New Zealand’s ongoing commitment towards supporting the sector and working with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to help navigate the challenges presented by the pandemic, such as integrating Covid-19 measures into work practises and addressing workforce matters. As you will know, the food and fibre sector is leading the charge in New Zealand’s economic recovery from Covid-19 – and the horticulture sector continues to play a vital role in these efforts.

Last year we launched the Fit for a Better World roadmap to accelerate New Zealand’s economic recovery by boosting productivity, value, sustainability and jobs. For the horticulture sector, this roadmap recognises the opportunity to sustainably grow sector export revenue by $2.6 billion over the next ten years. Despite Covid-19, the sector continues to meet demand for high-quality, delicious and nutritious produce. We are seeing strong demand for our fresh fruit and vegetables as consumers turn to healthy food options, based on strong environmental credentials. But new growth will require innovation and the development of new products and varieties.

Fit for a Better World contains some clear priorities for horticulture, such as new plant varieties, water storage and market access. At MPI we are committed to supporting this work, including through our Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. This includes our support to the $27 million A Lighter Touch programme, which aims to shift our horticulture sector to more biological and ecological processes. The goal is to meet consumer demands for food produced through more sustainable pest management practices. We have also backed the horticulture sector through our Opportunity Grows Here campaign to attract New Zealanders to primary sector jobs, careers and training.

Ray Smith, MPI director-general

Outside these flagship projects there is a significant amount of other work underway to grow the horticulture sector. This includes development of the Horticulture Action Plan.

At the heart of this Action Plan is ensuring government and industry take a coordinated approach towards the future of horticulture in New Zealand. It will create a clear vision for future growth of the sector and identify a series of shared priorities that will make a difference. It will also identify areas of alignment between government, industry, Māori and science, and help to coordinate policy, investment and science priorities and programmes. Importantly, it will result in clear and actionable implementation and investment plans to grow both value and volume.

Looking to 2022, I’m excited by the opportunity that a focused strategy could bring for New Zealand’s horticulture sector and our wider recovery from Covid-19. MPI is committed to supporting the horticulture sector in 2022 and beyond. Judging by the past two years, 2022 will also present Covid-related challenges, but I am delighted at the sector’s resilience and confident we will continue to work well together to overcome obstacles. For that reason – and for the health of yourself, your whānau and friends, workmates and the wider community – I strongly recommend getting double-jabbed with the vaccine. It is a key tool in New Zealand’s quest for life to return to the way we want it. Finally, I’d like to wish you all a safe and enjoyable Christmas and a successful New Year.