YOUR LEVY AT WORK
Signatories to the pledge
Biosecurity Business Pledge gathers momentum Will you commit to playing your part? By Anna Rathé : Biosecurity Manager, HortNZ The Biosecurity Business Pledge is a partnership that aims to help all New Zealand businesses take a proactive approach to their biosecurity practices. The pledge was launched in October 2019 and has continued to gain momentum – there are now more than 80 businesses who have signed up and publicly demonstrate their commitment to biosecurity. Companies taking part range from ports and airports to primary producers, distributors, freight companies, research organisations and more. It’s great to see so many diverse businesses taking biosecurity seriously and implementing steps that ultimately protect growers and farmers from biosecurity risks. The pledge was developed by industry organisations in partnership with Biosecurity New Zealand to provide a framework for managing the risk of unwanted pests and diseases (plant or animal) disrupting individual 8
The ORCHARDIST : MAY 2021
businesses or even whole sectors. This framework for action makes biosecurity a core part of operational activity and assists businesses to meet their corporate and social responsibilities. Businesses commit to being an active part of New Zealand's biosecurity team of all New Zealanders by integrating proactive biosecurity practices into their operations and supply chains. Taking a proactive approach to biosecurity is not only good for an individual business or sector but helps protect our economy, unique natural environment and our way of life. When a business signs up to the pledge they are committing to: • actively seek to understand and manage the biosecurity considerations associated with their business activities; • promote a culture of proactive biosecurity management within their operations, across their business, around their board tables, and across their teams;
