“They won because they kept rowing in the storms when everybody else decided to put out their sea anchors and take a rest.
“Now is the time, when the whole world is distracted by the storm of covid-19, to really push through and position ourselves to have the advantage. Are we going to be the people who rowed through the storm or who rode out the storm?”
Work in all things involving the environment needs to be a priority.
“We’ve got to keep working on this stuff. It’s in our interests as a nation to do so.”
Poulton says it’s important to recognise the relentless work farmers across all food sectors have been doing for many years to improve water and other natural resources on their farms, which has come at no small cost.
“As science demonstrates gaps or highlights priorities for improving our natural resources it is in our own interests as food producers and the interests of our country as well as the customers and consumers of our products that we work to address those priorities.”
However, there’s no hiding from the reality it costs money, time and resources to do the work.
“The economic ability to deliver the outcomes needed while balancing environmental stewardship and social health and welfare within a whole farming system, let alone a catchment, is a fine balance when the nation is reeling from the shocks of a global pandemic and drought and trying to work out what the economic recovery looks like.
“This is always going to be a cost to farmers and wider society but it is also an investment in our natural resources and an investment to ensure our food product (is attractive) to high-value markets.
There is no doubt in her mind that if New Zealand can deliver significant outcomes from He Waka Eke Noa, the primary sector climate change commitment, and the continuing work to improve freshwater across the country it will strengthen the platform for trade opportunities with markets all over the world.
Given conversations she, predecessor Mike Petersen and others have had in Europe and Britain, Poulton is confident NZ’s continued commitment to the environment is important for negotiating free-trade agreements and for business-to-business contracts in both food service and retail.
“While hopeful, I’m less convinced that we’ll attract significant premiums. But I am certain that our continued commitment to the environment will help to keep our product on the menu and the shelves.
“We must make it extraordinarily difficult for markets to keep NZ product from their shelves and menus and our commitment to the environment, standards on food safety, quality assurance and animal health and welfare are all factors that make our products attractive.
“NZ’s reputation as a safe food source with high animal welfare standards is mission-critical for our country.
“I cannot overemphasise how important it is that we all maintain and pursue high standards in food safety and animal welfare.
“Aligning ourselves with the highest international standards is what gives substance to our reputation and branding. It is this that enables our food sectors and exporters the opportunity to be flexible and access diverse markets around the world.
“With such dynamic volatility in international markets we must safeguard every aspect of this to maximise our market opportunities and optimise returns back to our food producers and the NZ economy.”
Poulton says covid-19 is amplifying a shift by some countries towards putting themselves first, which will affect NZ food producers, exporters and our whole food and fibres sector.
“This is not new to us and so, being innovative and solutions-focused, we will always find ways to overcome these challenges.
“When we see nations introducing measures in response to covid-19, such as direct payments to farmers to protect them and their businesses, government purchases of food products, market support programmes, private storage aid and derogation from competition rules it certainly gets our attention.
“Our officials look very closely at these measures to ensure they are within the agreed rules of trade across the globe.”
Those same officials are actively pursuing, and being part of, international commitments to ensure global trade arteries continue to flow.
