This episode featured as part of the Agronomy segment in partnership with PGG Wrightson.

Seed and Grain New Zealand has released a manifesto calling for greater government support to safeguard the arable sector, says president Ed Luisetti.

The sector exports $350 million a year and underpins the dairy and meat industries through seed, Luisetti says, with New Zealand producing half the world’s carrot seed and half its white clover seed.

He says land conversions and plant closures, including McCain’s and Wattie’s, have hit the industry and raised food security concerns.

“We require clear country of origin labelling on our food products in our supermarkets,” he says, calling for a specific New Zealand Grown logo.

This episode featured as part of the Agronomy segment in partnership with PGG Wrightson. You can find your local team at store.pggwrightson.co.nz 

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.