Wednesday, 16 June 2021 09:58

Govt backs food, fibres sectors

Written by  Staff Reporters
Forestry Minister Stuart Nash. Forestry Minister Stuart Nash.

The Government will back the food and fibres sector to lead New Zealand’s economic recovery from Covid-19 with targeted investments, Forestry Minister Stuart Nash says.

The targeted investments will be part of the Government’s Fit for a Better World roadmap.

Two reports released today at the Fieldays – the Fit for a Better World Progress Update 2021 and the Sustainable Food and Fibres Snapshot – provide an update on the work the Government is doing in partnership with industry.

“Since we launched the roadmap, we’ve co-invested alongside industry in projects worth tens of millions of dollars,” Nash says.

Nash says the Fit for a Better World roadmap has focused on identifying creative and new ideas for lifting returns and improving sustainability.

“Last year, we up-scaled the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futrues) fund to further boost innovation efforts.”

He says SFF Futures has committed more than $111 million in funding to new projects, worth almost $250 million.

“This emphasises the importance the sector places on innovation, which is vital to the delivery of the roadmap.”

Nash reminded the audience that in the 2021 Budget, the Government committed $62 million to back initiatives to help reduce costs for farmers and growers, boost returns, and achieve lower on-farm emissions.

“Partnerships like He Waka Eke Noa, our Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership, are also working with farmers and growers on practical solutions to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change.

“All of this work has a common goal of strengthening the environmental credentials of our food and fibre products and driving further value growth.”

He says the Government is committed to working with sector partners to drive New Zealand’s economic recovery and ongoing prosperity.

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