Biosecurity has been rated by a roundtable of more than 100 primary sector industry leaders as the most critical of 15 issues facing agribusiness in New Zealand .
The first volume of the 2013 KPMG Agribusiness Agenda focuses on the big issues facing the sector, with biosecurity at number one, and rating a massive 9.3 out of 10 as the most urgent priority requiring immediately implementation.
The report identifies that the limitations of New Zealand's current biosecurity systems have been highlighted by the recent Psa incursion in the kiwifruit sector, as well as a 2013 report from the Auditor General on the Ministry for Primary Industries’ level of response preparedness.
There is a clear view in the report that industry needs to take greater ownership of the biosecurity system to ensure that relevant risks are identified and managed appropriately:
"They need to step up – and take greater interest in, and ownership of, the issues and their management. Most leaders we talked to were supportive of their industry sectors seeking to achieve a comprehensive GIA with MPI. This would increase the focus and engagement around an issue that for most producers is an uninsurable risk which could have catastrophic impact on their business."
Read the full KPMG Agribusiness Agenda 2013 (Volume 1 The State of the Nation) here (link below):