Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Peter Silcock believes the country is well placed to meet the demands of its export markets in terms of sustainable production.
Despite increasing focus in New Zealand on the impact of global warming and efficient use of water, Silcock believes the country can meet these challenges head on.
He told FPJ: “We have to get that premium positioning with our customers; I think we do sustainability well.
“It’s a question of making people confident about investing in New Zealand and, with our exchange rate being so good in the last year, we hope that will encourage more people. There are still climate change sceptics out there, but our customers believe it is happening, so we have to do something about it.”
However, Silcock believes the biggest impact of climate change on New Zealand’s industry may not be the phenomenon itself, but rather the response of the authorities. As FPJ went to press, the government was due to pass a new law on emissions trading that could well affect on-farm energy usage.
“Our industry is already very efficient,” said Silcock. “Competing countries such as Chile and South Africa are not feeling the same costs, yet their energy use is not as efficient. We have a sustainable approach, but we are paying more.”
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