Biosecurity tops business priority list again

Biosecurity has retained the number one ranking in KPMG’s annual Agribusiness Agenda priorities survey for the 12th year in a row.

In fact, there is no change in the top three with signing high-quality trade agreements and delivering broadband equality to all, again taking the number two and three spots respectively.

Despite retaining the top-ranking, world class biosecurity recorded its lowest ever priority score (8.76) this year, coming in below the 8.90 it recorded in the 2011 survey, which was conducted around the time when the full impacts of the Psa outbreak in kiwifruit were becoming apparent.

KPMG’s Head of Agribusiness, Ian Proudfoot said it has been a relatively benign year in respect of high-profile biosecurity incursions, with the borders remaining largely closed and good progress being made towards eradicating Mycoplasma bovis. He added it was pleasing to see the Government continuing to invest in enhancing biosecurity preparedness, with an investment of $42.9 million in Budget 2022.

Ian will talk further about this, the importance of biosecurity to industry leaders, and the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for the sector, particularly following Covid-19, at our AGM in August.