Whether that is the fate of the New Zealand start-up ecosystem remains to be seen. It is dominated by the agri-tech sector – at last count it was home to more than 90 budding companies, according to the Global Start-up Report 2020.
The report scores New Zealand contenders well for performance, funding and talent and the country has the highest per-capita ratio of angel investors in the world.
But while it scores reasonably well as a start-up environment it fails to convert that promise into penetrating global markets because the demand for agri-tech pastoral solutions is limited to a handful of countries. However, plans are under way to encourage technology development that has a broader global appeal.
Gerard Hutching
Reports about to go public
Two eagerly awaited reports related to the primary sector are set to land in the next 10 days. The Wool Industry Working Group and Primary Sector Council reports cost the taxpayer $1.4 million.
Katie Milne looks back
Despite being initially reluctant about the focus on her as the first female Federated Farmers president, Katie Milne has come to accept she has provided an example to other women to step into leadership roles.
Consistency wins top dairy award
A Waikato farm that has previously been a joint Supreme Award runner-up in the Dairy Business of the Year contest has gone one better to take the top spot this year.
Farmer confidence lifts
Confidence in the agricultural sector has rebounded strongly from its fall in March with fewer farmers now concerned about covid impacts on the rural economy, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey says.
Rural water hijacked
Farmers are worried Environment Minister David Parker’s decision to fast track Watercare’s consent to take Waikato River water for Aucklanders will come at the expense of their allocations.
Labour to protect productive farmland
Labour MPs say they will require any conversion of highly productive farmland to forestry to have a resource consent.