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A two-year project will help identify how New Zealand's apiculture sector sector can achieve sustainable growth.
It will be funded from the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund for the project.
Apiculture NZ chief executive Karin Kos says the project's aim is to establish a strategic direction for NZ's apiculture sector by identifying 'actionable measures to enable sustainable value growth'.
"The sector experienced huge growth following the quick escalation in demand from international consumers for New Zealand's mānuka honey," Kos explains. "But in many ways the sector's response to meet that new demand has been unsustainable. Now is the time to understand how we can capitalise on the opportunities that have emerged, but at a rate that can be lasting, both for participants and the environment."
She says the honey industry welcomes the Government's support to help it realise that goal.
The work will look at opportunities to capture more value at all levels of the sector and understand what type of transformation, capability and innovation will be required to capture that value sustainably.
Kos says the funding will not only help to prepare a plan but support the initial implementation of projects deemed to be vital to delivering sustainable growth.
Open Country Dairy has finalised a deal to acquire 100% of Miraka.
Fonterra has unveiled the first refrigerated electric truck to deliver dairy products across Auckland.
Research and healthcare initiatives, leadership and dedication to the sector have been recognised in the 2025 Horticulture Industry Awards.
Virtual fencing and pasture management company Halter says its NZ operations has delivered a profit of $2.8 million after exclusion of notional items.
Manuka honey trader Comvita slumped to a $104 million net loss last financial year, reflecting prolonged market disruption, oversupply and pricing volatility.
The Government has struck a deal with New Zealand's poultry industry, agreeing how they will jointly prepare for and respond to exotic poultry diseases, including any possible outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI).