A new plan to help the agritech industry grow was released on Tuesday, with the aim of increasing the sector's productivity.
The launch of the Agritech Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) coincided with the release of a review of the sector by industry association Agritech NZ.
The review - Aotearoa Agritech Unleashed - made a number of recommendations around strategic opportunities for the sector to pursue. These included:
- A strengthened commitment from the sector to the ITP as a joint Government and industry strategic approach
- Developing a Trans-Tasman agritech strategy
- Maximising local adoption of New Zealand agritech
Included in the plan is support for commercialising new products and the establishment of a horticultural robotics academy.
The Government has earmarked $11.4 million of direct investment - announced in Budget 2020 - to fund the plan, and a share of $84 million of the Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures will also be brought forward.
There will also be ongoing support from the Government's agritech taskforce and a number of other existing Government programmes.
"Our Government believes we can grow the agritech sector into a stronger economic contributor, increase agritech exports, and advance sustainable primary production in New Zealand," Minister for Economic Development Phil Twyford said on Tuesday.
Development of the plan was led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
