A new agreement between KVH and Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) to improve biosecurity focused efforts for growers has been developed.

KVH Chief Executive Barry O’Neil says the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) finalised earlier this week will ensure the kiwifruit industry achieves better biosecurity.

“Protecting the kiwifruit industry from unwanted pests and diseases is our absolute priority, and with so many different moving parts the more effort we can put into this, the better. By working more closely with HortNZ, we can better streamline our resources and more efficiently take part in readiness and response activities for the benefit of our growers.”

“It will mean for example that HortNZ will be a support network for KVH during Ministry for Primary Industries Wellington-based activities, and allow for us to better utilise HortNZ’s influence in working with other horticulture sectors in strengthening overall biosecurity protection and preparedness.”

HortNZ Chief Executive Mike Chapman adds that the MOU is a natural progression for two organisations who already work closely together and are increasingly undertaking greater biosecurity activities.

“HortNZ and KVH share the same biosecurity goals. We want to make sure unwanted threats that could affect our growers are kept out of New Zealand, but we know that we also need to be well-prepared in the event they get here. By aligning our activities and messages, we can be more effective in our advocacy role in government, as well as increasing grower biosecurity awareness and on-orchard practices.”

“HortNZ provides strong leadership and coordination efforts across the horticultural sectors – with this agreement we’re also confirming our ability to provide robust biosecurity policy and submissions advice to the kiwifruit industry. This will in-turn reduce significant duplication in effort by both organisations and most importantly, help deliver a better, more efficient, biosecurity preparedness operating model for growers.”