Beef+Lamb – NZTE initiative will boost exports

Federated Farmers believes two recent and significant policy initiatives are coming together that will make the Red Meat Market Development Contestable Fund fly for not just farmers, but all New Zealanders.

“The $850,000 Red Meat Market Development Contestable Fund is a lot more than unlocking entrepreneurial exporters,” says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson.

“It’s potentially, the first example of how the impending Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry/Ministry of Fisheries merger is seeing a cross fertilisation of ideas. The Red Meat Market Development Contestable Fund follows a similar scheme run with our colleagues in aquaculture, since 2009.

“Not only that, the rural broadband initiative provides the means for not just our current exporters, but entrepreneurial farmers to realise greater export value from what we produce.

“The radical potential of broadband is to eliminate the gap between grower and consumer, to effectively develop farms and farmers as distinctive brands, either individually or collectively.

“To be truly successful we must start from the premise of ‘business unusual’. Doing the same old thing just won’t cut it in this interconnected world.

“It’s one more way in which we can realise Federated Farmers T150 target of $150, for an average mid-season lamb by 2013.

“That’s why Federated Farmers is excited by this excellent Beef+Lamb New Zealand and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise initiative. Having that combined firepower gives farmers the market intelligence, scope and opportunity to become more than we are today

“These are things Federated Farmers wholeheartedly believes in. It’s not a one-shoe fits all approach, but a mix meaning individual farmers can and will play a huge part,” Mr Wills concluded.