New Zealand’s agribusiness sector must embrace science and innovation to ensure its future success as a global player, says KPMG. KPMG made this statement as it revealed sponsorship of the inaugural KPMG Agribusiness Leaders Breakfast and of the Business & International Visitors Centre at the New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays.
KPMG is hosting a discussion of these and other opportunities and challenges facing the sector at the KPMG Agribusiness Leaders Breakfast being held at Fieldays. This will involve the following industry leaders:
- Hon David Carter, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
- Sir Henry van der Heyden, Chairman of Fonterra Co-operative Group
- Charlie Graham, Head of Rural Banking, ANZ National Bank.
Ian Proudfoot, Lead Agribusiness Partner, KPMG says: “Following the release of the KPMG Agribusiness Agenda, we believe Fieldays 2010 provides a great platform for further industry discussion of these important issues.”
“This is the first time such an event has been held at the Fieldays and we hope it will facilitate a powerful exchange of ideas and assist industry leaders connect with new innovations and the major opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
“Now is the time to start revising industry structures, practices and products to ensure the industry is established on a path up the value chain.
“New Zealand agribusinesses need to invest heavily in science, technology and infrastructure to gain a competitive advantage in producing the quality food products customers in premium markets are demanding.
“We believe the Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) are well placed to lead the delivery of new science but need to be given the ability to pursue opportunities which may not be linked to immediate commercial returns and support the findings CRI Taskforce reported in February.
“We support the Government’s new targeted research and development funding and implore Agribusiness companies to exploit the funding when it becomes available. The recently announced schemes will provide companies with an opportunity to increase investment in R&D through obtaining government grants. The funding is a positive step in a tight fiscal environment,” he said.
KPMG advisors will be present at the 2010 Fieldays at the Business and International Visitors Centre.
ENDS