MPI defends cost of new biosecurity lab
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
MPI’s Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) forecasts the country’s annual food and fibre export revenue will crack the $50 billion mark for the first time next year – an increase of 6% over 2021’s earnings.
This revenue will be crucial in helping pay off the huge debts the country has incurred as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has hit many parts of the NZ economy.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says the outcome of the SOPI revenue projections is a testament to the primary sector’s huge efforts to keep the wheels of our national and local economies turning. He says it’s important to acknowledge the hard work of rural New Zealand and to celebrate the performance and successes in the latest SOPI.
“High demand for our dairy products combined with strong export prices are expected to deliver an estimated 10 percent increase in dairy export revenue to $20.9 billion,” O’Connor says. “Meat export revenue is forecast to increase by 6% to $11.1 billion, driven by recovering export prices and demand for our meat products.”
Horticulture export revenue is also expected to increase as well.
“Consumers can’t get enough of our fresh fruit and wine with demand remaining strong. This is driving an expected increase in export revenue of 5% to $6.9 billion,” O’Connor adds.
Forestry exports are expected to reach $6.7 billion in the year to 30 June 2022, an increase of 3% on the current year.
Meanwhile, the country’s seafood exports are recovering from the challenges posed by COVID-19, such as the disruption to food service. Seafood export revenue is forecast to rise 4% to $1.9 billion in the year to 30 June 2022, as countries open up and food service resumes.
O’Connor believes new opportunities for New Zealand primary exports have potential to see even greater returns.
“Reaching the agreement in principle for the New Zealand – United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement in October will enable our exporters to compete on a level playing field in the UK market.”
He says the NZ primary sector was meeting strong demand as consumers around the world increasingly looked to healthier food and natural fibres with strong environmental credentials.
