Agriculture drives exports, contributing over NZ$48 billion in 2022. Main exports include dairy, meat, wood products and fruits. Production growth is constrained by environmental limits. Opportunities exist in higher value-added products, niche/organic produce, and sustainable practices. Consumer demand grows globally for premium, ethically-produced New Zealand products.
Agritech adoption enables precision agriculture to improve productivity and environmental performance. New Zealand aims to be a leader in agricultural technology. Trade deals like CPTPP and RCEP continue opening access to high-value Asian markets. But exporting remains vulnerable to geopolitics and trade policy changes abroad.
New Zealand’s agriculture industry presents various business opportunities, given its significant contribution to the country’s economy. The Agriculture industry has been a major employer, directly employing 8.4 percent (229,566 people) of the New Zealand workforce. The number of people attributed to being directly employed in tourism was 145,032, an increase of 3.2 percent (3,888).
The Agriculture industry has also supported regional economies and contributed to the country’s GDP. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism was New Zealand’s largest export industry, delivering $40.9 billion to the country. The agriculture industry has been a major employer, directly employing 8.4 percent (229,566 people) of the New Zealand workforce.
The number of people attributed to being directly employed in tourism was 145,032, an increase of 3.2 percent (3,888). The industry has also supported regional economies and contributed to the country’s GDP. However New Zealand’s growing industry footprint creates sustainability challenges around natural assets, infrastructure demands and social license.?
Making use of the agriculture’s role in the bioeconomy represents another key opportunity. As global decarbonization accelerates, sustainable biological resources will be increasingly in demand – from plantation forests for carbon sequestration to sheep genetics for low methane traits. New Zealand is well placed to lead in these spaces with its natural advantages, expertise and international linkages.
