New Zealand agriculture minister Jim Sutton highlighted NZ horticulture as an example of creativity and announced that measures hindering imports of high-value genetic plant material will soon change.

He told delegates at a conference of the International Society of Plant Propagators this week that NZ horticulture was innovative, calling the sector a global leader and major contributor to the national economy, providing significant employment and building the country’s profile in 105 countries world-wide. Further growth is projected for an industry that has already doubled in size in 12 years.

“The ability to bring new genetic material into New Zealand is crucial to the development and marketing of improved varieties of plants,” said Sutton. “Such new material also provides a basis for research, development and innovation. It is equally important to ensure that biosecurity is maintained when bringing in new material to protect what is already here...However gaps in high-security plant post-entry-quarantine services mean that New Zealanders cannot bring in materials. The main problem is that nobody in New Zealand has the resources to provide the full range of specialist diagnostic services required...That is about to change.

“The government has agreed to resource the national plant pest reference laboratory to offer the critical PEQ diagnostic services,” he pledged.

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