Thursday, 09 March 2023 15:55

New technical adviser appointed

Written by  Staff Reporters
Jo-Anne Stokes Jo-Anne Stokes

Jo-Anne Stokes has been appointed as Animal and Plant Health NZ’s new technical adviser – crop protection.

The role will see Stokes help Animal and Plant Health NZ members tackle the hurdles associated with bringing innovative solutions to New Zealand to manage pests and diseases.

Stokes derived an appreciation for these tools in her biosecurity role for the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), where she managed treatments for pests and diseases intercepted at the border.

“It is vital for Aotearoa to have the most effective options for managing 15,000 pests and diseases considered direct threats to our economy, environment and way of life,” she says.

“I’ve seen first-hand what can happen when an unwelcome pest or disease invades our country,” she says. 

Climate change and resistance to treatments will likely see these threats evolve.

“Animal and Plant Health members play a vital role in managing pests and protecting our food security. I am excited to be helping them navigate complex regulatory requirements as they develop innovative solutions for protecting New Zealand’s land-based economies – now and for the future”.

In her 14 years with MPI, Stokes was instrumental in developing a programme to ensure imports are treated before arriving on New Zealand’s shores, as well as meeting requirements for exporting goods.

Before that, she held technical and policy-based roles at Federated Farmers and Rural Women NZ.

She is no stranger to getting her gumboots dirty – having managed farming operations in dairy, beef and horticulture locally and overseas.

. Her combined background has taught her that “there aren't enough tools to eradicate pests and diseases to protect our whenua for the next generation".

More like this

'A game changer'

Animal and Plant Health Association NZ says it welcomes a review of regulations "hampering NZ agriculture's ability to keep pace with the rest of the world".

Let's continue to innovate

OPINION: The agricultural sector is facing a crisis, with forecasts for registering innovative animal and crop health products hitting an all-time low.

Featured

Crush death triggers on-farm traffic alert

Following a sentencing for a death at a South Canterbury agribusiness, WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds.

Vegetable growing at risk

Horticulture New Zealand says the country’s ability to provide fresh, healthy vegetables is at risk unless the Government makes growing them a permitted activity.

Industry monitoring dry conditions

While it has been a great spring and summer for farmers, soil moisture levels in the Waikato are now plummeting as the dry February starts to bite.

National

Top dairy CEO quits

Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products…

DairyNZ seeks more cash

For the first time in 17 years, DairyNZ wants farmers to contribute more cash to run the industry-good organisation.

EPA's plan 'not good enough'

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is bolstering its frontline applications teams in a bid to reduce the timeframe for new…

Machinery & Products

New home for JCB Agriculture

Power Farming has announced a new chapter in its partnership with JCB, which having represented the UK-based company’s construction equipment…

CAT's 100th anniversary

While instantly recognised as the major player in construction equipment, Caterpillar Inc, more commonly known as CAT, has its roots…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Ruth reckons

OPINION: Ruth Richardson, architect of the 1991 ‘Mother of all Budgets’ and the economic reforms dubbed ‘Ruthanasia’, added her two…

Veg, no meat?

OPINION: Why do vegans and others opposed to eating meat try to convince others that a plant based diet is…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter