New Zealand has a great history of food innovation and was often referred to as a ‘petri dish of possibility’, but it feels like we have lost our imagination and growth mindset over recent years. As our food producers are challenged to contribute to the government’s ‘double export value’ policy, we need to regain the innovation momentum to become a food superpower. How can that happen and what’s stopping us from getting there as soon as possible?
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- New Zealand has a strong record of discovery and inventiveness in high demand areas such as protein, fruit and food service, and while we are reaching our volume limits, research, science and innovation could help increase the value of food and fibre exports.
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- The innovation talent base is declining, the innovation ‘system’ is fragmented, and New Zealand’s track record of large-scale, value-add commercialisation of new product categories could be better improved if we had a more connected, sophisticated innovation system.
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- There have been export successes over the last two decades in fruit (apples, pears, kiwi), dairy, wine, fish and meat and these hint at a way forward but we need to accelerate adoption of the technology innovations and focus on scalability of value-add production.
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- An innovation framework is needed in New Zealand, that brings together research, science, and commercialisation to be financially
supported by government and backed by industry.
- An innovation framework is needed in New Zealand, that brings together research, science, and commercialisation to be financially
