increase font size
National Beekeepers' Association president Barry Foster says he will talk to MPI about improving their communication following the independent report into how the devastating kiwifruit vine disease PSA came into this country.
The Australian report couldn't identify exactly how PSA got into the country but identified shortcomings in New Zealand's biosecurity system.
Foster says the failings all come down to a communication breakdown between MPI and affected industries.
"This allowed the importation of pollen. In this case the pollen came from plants but if it had come from an overseas beehive it could have had devastating consequences for our industry, as well as the kiwifruit industry."
New Zealand's beekeeping industry is estimated to be worth over $5 billion annually. By providing pollination services it supports many of New Zealand's major agri-export industries.
Foster says GIA or the proposed Government Industry Agreement would be one way of improving the communication between industries and MPI.
"Obviously we, as an agricultural sector, need greater communication with MPI and they with us. Anything to do with plant material being imported into New Zealand has an effect on our industry.
"For instance, if fruit isn't cleared of the small hive beetle there could be devastating consequences for our industry.
"And if beekeepers are badly affected by a pest or disease, there are major flow-on effects on other agri-sectors."
Foster says while there will be some costs to signing up to GIA there will also be some major differences in approach to biosecurity planning and incursion response that industry may feel are well worth the cost.
However he says GIA is some way away and in the meantime he intends talking with MPI about how they can improve their communication lines so the next importation of
a potential risk to the industry can have red flags attached right from the beginning.
NBA executive council member Dennis Crowley says everyone knew the investigation into how PSA came into New Zealand would never prove exactly where the infection came from. However he says the report showed up slackness in a number of areas.
"It showed some shortcomings in the way MPI (MAF at the time) deals with biosecurity issues. MPI suggested the kiwifruit industry should have asked more questions about the importation of the pollen. But how can an industry ask about what it doesn't know? MPI needs to check with all industries and get their sign off before it brings anything into this country."
In this biosecurity article, I touch on four subjects of recent interest: the new New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) Biosecurity Contractor Resources, a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug update, a Xylella Action Group update, and the Forest Biosecurity Conference.
Taranaki has launched Biosecurity Taranaki in an effort to safeguard the region’s environment.
Every year, the New Zealand Winegrowers biosecurity team is sent an increasing number of images from members of suspected grapevine pest insects and disease symptoms, evidence that a high level of biosecurity awareness is building amongst the industry.
Biosecurity New Zealand says its frontline teams are ready for the anticipated influx of summer travellers with changes to arrivals processing at airports and the introduction of new hosts to help people.
Biosecurity New Zealand has welcomed 23 new quarantine officers and four new detector dog handlers this month.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
