WORDS BY RICHARD RENNIE, IMAGES BY ANNIE STUDHOLME
The last two generations of farmers have been fortunate to have enjoyed the biggest productivity gains in New Zealand’s primary sector history. Whether they be from improved genetics, smarter farm systems, or better grasses and feeds, all have ensured the primary sector has consistently delivered above average productivity gains for the past 30 years.
But alarm bells have been ringing for the past five to 10 years as New Zealand’s markets have shifted, seeking more sustainable products, products with greater health benefits, processing flexibility, or all three.
Meantime there has been a touch of the “All Blacks symptom,” of competing countries simply getting better at mimicking some of the techniques and technology Kiwi farmers have taken for granted for years.
Can’t keep on keeping on
But it has fast dawned upon leaders, politicians and sector players that doing what we have always done will not get us through the coming years, particularly if we wish to fulfil the government’s declared target of doubling exports in only a decade from now.
It is a big goal made in a global environment where not only are competing countries’ producers getting better, but they are also often provided generously with subsidies and support enabling them to transition to things like lower emissions technology, or to lower their farm system’s impact.
Farmers could well ask how that big goal could be achieved given some of the constraints placed upon their ability to adopt modern technology and techniques, farmers elsewhere around the world are taking for granted. In addition, subsidy support to do so in the country’s current austere economy is also unlikely.
New moves afoot
However, farmers and growers may take heart from government moves that look likely to make it easier to adopt the latest technology and techniques that will enable our primary sector to maintain the productivity gains that have appeared to come by default over past years.
Those moves may not necessarily have subsidies attached but will at least revolve around specific steps to free up regulation, limitations, and timeframes for getting new technology into the country and embedded into farmers’ and growers’ systems.
Things kicked off at Mystery Creek in June with ACT leader, David Seymour, announcing in his capacity as Regulation Minister changes are coming to how New Zealand approves agri-chemicals. After years of delays in getting new chemicals onto New Zealand orchards and farms, Seymour said farmers were finding they were unable to get old products overseas companies no longer made, but the new replacement products had often not been approved here.
“It has been made too difficult to get the tools they need,” he said.
But he was hopeful the changes would be enacted quickly, and took heart from how quick government had reversed the rules around pseudoephedrine sales in New Zealand.
One prime example of the issue highlighted by Foundation for Arable Research CEO Dr Alison Stewart, was the delay in getting approval for a product to control Fall Armyworm. She noted that as a result the worm has become far more prolific and widespread than would have otherwise been the case.
The changes centre around the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) which oversees the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act. The Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act is also under the minister’s spotlight.
Another example of where farmers were stymied by these regulations is in trying to meet expectations to reduce methane output from their livestock.
Proven to reduce livestock methane by 30–50%, the product Bovaer is already available in 45 countries and has a major partnership with animal health company Elanco.
It, along with at least three other products, have been in the approval pipeline for months while other companies have lost their appetite for investing into New Zealand given the lengthy delays for approval.
These delays were highlighted in a Sapere report released earlier this year that found the time to get approval on new products had blown out to be over three times longer than it was a decade ago. At the same time, the number of products being approved had dropped drastically.
In 2021-2023 eight products took 1,050 days to gain approval, compared to 14 products taking 400 days a decade earlier.
Dr Liz Shackleton, Head of Animal & Plant Health NZ, has also confirmed more companies are avoiding New Zealand because of the delays and costs they encounter trying to gain approval, risking this country becoming a backwater for crop treatment technology.
New gene tech rules to follow
David Seymour’s announcement has been welcomed by all leaders in the agri-sector, as has the related move to make gene editing technology easier to trial and release in New Zealand.
After 30 years of use outside the lab being barred, legislation is being introduced late this year to end the ban and enable the technology to be trialled and made available for commercial use.
The legislation will be based heavily on Australia’s where several New Zealand companies have been compelled to trial their crops and grasses due to the legislative impossibility of doing it at home.
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister, Judith Collins, has noted how New Zealand has lagged behind all its major trading partners including Australia, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and United States, in allowing the technology to be used for food production.
Changes have been uniformly endorsed by the heavyweight Crown Research Institutes in New Zealand, with Plant and Food Chief Scientist, Dr Richard Newcomb, saying having access to the technology will be invaluable in helping make New Zealand crops more resistant to climate change.
That includes horticultural crops that may require winter chilling that is harder to achieve, which is already a problem with kiwifruit in Bay of Plenty. Other applications include developing dwarf avocadoes and citrus trees, and heat tolerant apple crops.
The move to free up gene technology regulations will however require farmers and growers be included in the process. Beef + Lamb NZ surveys’ have revealed a wide range of farmer opinions, and a desire to have more information about what the technology’s benefits may be, and potential impacts upon export sales.
Many however also support the potential for the technology to improve animal welfare, for example in managing issues like facial eczema.
Meantime as drench resistance starts to become a clear and present danger, gene technology may come to play an early role in helping better manage such issues with stock genetics that are more tolerant to worm challenges.
Speeding up the process
Most recently, the government’s fast track projects list should also give the primary sector hope for more growth focused opportunities.
The list is extensive, with over 140 projects down to be prioritised. Canterbury farmers will welcome the inclusion of the Mid-Canterbury Klondyke Storage scheme, aimed at improving the reliability of the MHV Water and Ashburton Lyndhurst schemes.
Further north, the Amuri Irrigation Company will have its 10cumec water storage dam project fast tracked, to hold water for the Amuri Basin.
For a small country needing to export 90% of its production from the bottom of the world, the need to be nimble and responsive is greater than ever in a tough international environment.
The provision of easier pathways for farmers and growers to pick up modern technology and run with it will be a welcome way to keep them competitive, and maintain the country’s status as a consistent, high-quality supplier of healthy, sustainable food.
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