Not so cuddly
OPINION: The image of regenerative farmers as kind, cuddly progressive types took a hit when one of their own took to social media to gloat over Bayer Crop Science's decision to close its Hastings research site.
It's an open secret that other multinationals are far from enamoured by our cumbersome, onerous and frankly stupid approvals process.
The cost and slow pace of our regulatory process has destroyed the confidence these agri-chem companies have to invest in local product development, hence there are far fewer applications in the system.
Which means fewer new tools for farmers.
KPMG says the animal health industry in NZ not only underpins the export industries that pay for pretty much everything in this country, but on its own it employs 1100 people and generates $430m.
Our bureaucrats need to drop this mindset that we're so 'special' that we can make the approvals process as hard as we like, and these companies will invest here.
They're already voting with their feet.
