The innovations that APHANZ members want approved for New Zealand include:
- Biologicals living organisms or naturally occurring substances to control pest populations, including natural predators, parasites, pathogens, or competitors. An example is a new-to-NZ bioinsecticide for the control of diamondback moth, a pest in brassica crops. Australia have access to biological alternatives for fall army worm.
- Softer chemistry, that is, updated agrichemicals that offer a more natural (although not necessarily “organic”) alternative to suppress pests and improve crop yield, reducing dependence on broad-spectrum pesticides and insecticides. An example is flupyradifurone to control pests like aphids and whiteflies that damage crops. US, EU and Australian trading partners have had access to this active for many years.
- Inhibitors used with fertilisers slow nitrogen conversion in the soil and nitrous oxide emissions, or oral boluses and other solutions to reduce methane emissions.
- Pest management solutions like norbormide, a highly selective, target specific rat toxin which will be game-changing in protecting our precious biodiversity. Other examples include softer pest management chemistry including for use in organic certified produce.
- Biosecurity solutions like dinotefuran to control brown marmorated stink bug and alternatives including biologicals for control of Fall army worm (in use in other overseas jurisdictions like Australia).
- Preventative medicines like vaccines that strengthen animal health and reduce reliance on antibiotics. Vaccines under research will act as our frontline toolkit for emerging diseases like high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to protect our native taonga - kākāpō, takahē, tūturuatu/shore plover and kakī/black stilt.
The economic impact is significant
- The animal health and crop protection industries had a value of $24 billion to New Zealand.A 2019 NZIER report explains that New Zealand’s economy would lose up to $11.4 billion without crop protection products – and that crop production would decrease by 30 percent. This figure is expected to have increased since the report was published.According to a 2021 KPMG report, the animal health industry contributes $12.68 billion in economic value to New Zealand.
