Biosecurity has again been ranked the number one priority for agribusiness leaders, holding its top spot for the 16th consecutive year – and achieving its highest score since 2018.

The 2026 Agribusiness Agenda goes further than previous years, positioning biosecurity as a “foundational pillar of sector resilience”.

Recent responses to incursions such as avian influenza and the Yellow-legged hornet show what can be achieved through strong collaboration between industry and government.

However, the report warns against overconfidence. Biosecurity risks are increasing and changing, driven by factors like climate change and global connectivity. At the same time, many export sectors rely on monocultures - increasing the potential impact of a single incursion.

A key message this year is the need to move from relying on past responses to actively preparing for future threats, including targeting effort based on real risk (not a one-size-fits-all approach); using data and analytics to guide decisions; and ensuring systems evolve with changing threats.

For the kiwifruit industry, the report themes are a real reminder that biosecurity is central to long-term resilience, requiring effort and commitment from all.

KVH’s work, from preparedness and surveillance to practical grower guidance, directly supports the direction set out in this year’s Agenda.

View the biosecurity page from the report here, or see the full report on the KPMG website here.