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Ballance chief executive Kelvin Wickham
Farmer-owned fertiliser company, Ballance Agri Nutrients is welcoming National’s plan to negotiate security agreements with key supplier countries to protect New Zealand-bound products from export restrictions and greater supply chain certainty.
Ballance chief executive Kelvin Wickham says the co-operative supports National’s policy and its recognition that reliable access to fertiliser and water is critical to on-farm productivity and to the New Zealand economy.
“Primary production is, more than ever, the engine of our economy, and fertiliser security is food and economic security for New Zealand,” Wickham says.
National’s policy, announced this morning, comes after significant disruptions to shipping routes, global fertiliser prices and availability amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Associate agriculture spokesperson Mike Butterick said without reliable access, the farm sector would not be able to sustain its current production base.
“New Zealand plans for fuel security and energy security. National believes we should also plan for fertiliser security to protect New Zealand’s productive economy,” he said.
The party would also, if elected, create a $10m fund to partner with domestic fertiliser manufacturers to support pathways for long-term domestic nitrogen production and the transition from natural gas to electrification.
“National will prioritise reducing reliance on imports and improve certainty of availability for our farmers,” says Butterick.
Wickham agrees that the conflict in the Middle East has shown the importance of planning for soil nutrients the way the country plans for fuel, and secure, well-managed supply supports both productive farms and the New Zealand economy. “We welcome the focus on working directly with supplier countries to keep fertiliser flowing when markets are disrupted.”
Wickham is urging bipartisan support for this policy direction so that farmers and investors have confidence it will stand the test of time.
“Ballance will continue working with all parties, before and after the election, to help ensure a secure and resilient nutrient supply chain,” he says.
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