NZPPI's up and running, cyber security awareness week, kiwifruit nursery biosecurity rules, plant imports survey, 2017 garden trends, Governement biosecurity forum, NPPA, industry training ...
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The last few weeks has been a tremendously busy period with the remodelling of NGINZ and the establishment of NZPPI.
- Some fifty people attended the National Plant Producers Summit on 7 September ... more
- Membership of NZPPI is now open and we’re at around a hundred signed up members ... more
- BDO Wellington has been engaged as our Independent Subscription Agent
- Nominations for the new NZPPI Board are now open as we head towards an election in the last half of November ... more
- Our membership benefit deal with the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) is up and running ... more
- Retailer and supply Industry Partners meet on 9 November and 1 December to discuss a Special Interest Group ... more
Work continues on programmes of interest and new member benefits... a workplace health and safety package, cyber security guidance, reconfirmation of IRD's stock valuation rules, an insurance package, an update to our wage and salary survey and more. We'll be in touch as they're ready. Keep an eye out too for programmes and activities that grow out of Special Interest Groups – and if you’ve got ideas for these or any other activities, give us a call.
... read more
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As the discovery of greater numbers of pests and pathogens worldwide has resulted in the tightening of biosecurity rules, the trade of ornamental plants into New Zealand has become increasingly more difficult. MPI in recent years has focussed import health standard reviews on high-value horticultural crops and industries.
And it’s time to make a change. NZPPI and the Plant Germplasm Imports team at MPI are looking at:
- Options for creating new pathways for nursery stock imports into New Zealand, and
- Work with importers to identify lower cost pathways for nursery stock imports.
Frist up, there’s a survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HYC7HP2) to identify the most frequently imported ornamental genera/species and the preferred import pathways. If you’re an importer of ornamental plants, you’re invited to take part by 28 October..
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Connect Smart Week - raising awareness of cybersecurity for business. Helpful tips for workplace policies on internet use, use of apps, privacy settings, backups, passwords etc are on www.connectsmart.govt.nz.
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MPI and the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response (GIA) are hosting a Forum which will launch the Biosecurity 2025 Direction Statement about the future of biosecurity in New Zealand on 22/23 November in Auckland. The statement recognises that everyone in New Zealand has a part to play in our biosecurity system and everyone benefits from it. Registrations to attend are now open here.
In the last month NZPPI attended two workshops discussing the Biosecurity 2025 Direction Statement and provided feedback on the strategy and in particular to advocate for improved access to imported plant germplasm, mechanisms to ensure plant producers can transport their product freely through the country and a better understanding of the location of nurseries and our stock movement.
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GERMAC’s August meeting included discussion on:
- A project to understand the pest risks associated with tissue culture
- Prioritisation of import health standard reviews against the new PEQ facility standard
- Level 3 PEQ capacity
- The use of Next Generation Sequencing to detect and identify plant viruses
- Applications for new or review of Import Health Standards
- Progress through MPI’s Germplasm Imports work plan.
... read more
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The Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS) took effect 1 October, and kiwifruit nurseries now need to show that they are effectively managing biosecurity risk, with only KPCS certified kiwifruit plants able to be bought or sold. These movement controls are underpinned with a legal notice, available on the KVH website, of which failure to comply may result in a prosecution under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
KVH introduced the KPCS to reduce the risk of pests and pathogens being spread through the movement of kiwifruit nursery plants. This includes known pests and pathogens such as Cherry leaf roll virus and Psa, but also other threats that may be present in New Zealand but not yet detected, such as Ceratocystis fimbriata. Without internal biosecurity controls, a new pest or pathogen is likely to be widespread by the time it is detected and the window for eradication may have been missed.
... read more
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The USA Garden Media Group’s 2017 Garden Trends Report, Grow 365, highlights eight industry trends that are changing the way people think, shop and garden. Among these:
- Why it’s easier than ever to garden 365 days-a-year
- What is driving the increasing consumer desire for clean food, clean air and clean medicine
- How to inspire Millennials to garden year-round
- How elevated consumer interest in horticulture shifts gardening from hobby to career.
... download the report
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The Nursery Production Primary ITO Industry Partnership Group (IPG) met late September and continued development of its sector plan to promote and enhance improved industry training opportunities, effective industry and ITO connection and began its development of a business plan
We’ve several new members on the IPG and the enthusiasm they bring to the role stands the group in good stead going forward … If you are interested in working with us, you can read more here.
Primary ITO Portfolio Management - a number of IPG chairs met with ITO staff to discuss proposals for how the ITO will work with IPGs taking a stewardship role through the programs that have been developed for its industry: ensuring the programs and courses are well aligned with industry needs and achieving returns to both industry and the ITO. In principle, it’s a useful concept. However, as a small industry, with a small IPG the work required to both develop the stewardship approach, and to manage and monitor it was completely disproportional to our capability and resources to do so. One major matter that came out of the meeting, was a pan-sector need for a better understanding of workforce trends and future capacity and capability needs. This, I’m sure will form a major topic of conversation at the next Stakeholder Council meeting in December.
TROQ - Consultation is now open on the new Horticulture Production Management (Level 5) diploma and its unit standards. It includes a strand in Nursery Production, and if you’d like to help review these, contact John Liddle - john@nzppi.co.nz
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The Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme is an established and respected programme in the rural and primary industry sectors with a large alumni who have achieved success in leadership roles in New Zealand agriculture. Applications for 2017 are now open here.
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The PVR Technical Focus Group meeting discussed MBIE’s approach to PVR Law reform, issues associated with PVR trials and testing procedures, the use of overseas test reports, the duration of provisional protection and trends in application numbers in the sectors they come from. Ornamentals still account for the greater portion of applications and grants with fruit varieties a little way behind.
The PVR Law Reform Group next meets 26 October. MBIE officials drafting new PVR legislation will join us for part of the meeting.
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The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) Steering Group met in September and further developed its thinking on the Technical Advisory Group processes and decision tree as it considers submissions for plants to be added to the NPPA (no sale) list, how it manages legacy species which no longer meet the criteria of the Accord in advance of the 2017 NPPA plant list review.
MPI has begun the current research project at investigating x-ray as a tool for inspection of pelleted seeds. They have approached importers for samples of seed to verify and assess the efficacy of the method. We’re keeping close to MPI on this one which is vital to a number of our ornamental and vegetable producers.
Other discussions with MPI have touched on its review of the Rosa Import Health Standard, import restrictions following concerns over xylella, a devastating bacteria pathogen that fortunately is not present in New Zealand, work to understand better disease risk through the tissue culture pathway, the importation of fuchsia and alnus.
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- MPI’s consulting on proposed amendments to importing requirements for Citrus nursery stock. Consultation closes at 5pm on 21 October 2016.
- The EPA is seeking submissions on or before 3 November on an application to introduce a gall forming wasp (Tetramesa romana) and a scale insect (Rhizaspidiotus donacis) to control giant reed (Arundo donax), You may either make a submission directly to the EPA or send yours through to NZPPI – john@nzppi.co.nz
You may either make a submission directly to MPI or send yours through to NZPPI – john@nzppi.co.nz
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- NZPPI provided its assessment of the market values of plants that have been submitted by the public for consideration in Auckland Council’s Regional Pest Management Plan as the Council begins its work to assess those submissions
- MPI"s Plant Imports Team September newsletter.
- Primary ITO September newsletter
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Spring’s a time associated with an increased incidence of Legionnaire’s Disease and at least one strain Legionella longbeachae, is associated with gardening. It is widespread and present in soil, and in particular composts and potting mixes, whether home-made or manufactured. Each year a number of people contract this form of Legionnaire’s Disease. While most experience no more than mild flu-like symptoms, some become seriously ill. Tragically it can be fatal.
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It’s important to appreciate that legionella bacteria are naturally occurring and common in the environment. Under certain conditions, populations flare and the risk of people contracting the disease increases. The Ministry of Health regards gardening as a beneficial pastime (as do we), and has issued guidelines towards safer gardening.
Our approach, and regarded as appropriate by health authorities, is fourfold:
- Reminding members, both nurseries and retailers, of their health and safety responsibility for staff and customers.
- Ensuring warning labels are on bags of packaged media. While it's voluntary, our advice is do not stock it unless it’s got the health and caution warning.
- Work to ensure retailer staff are up to speed - they need to be able to reasonably react to consumer safety concerns.
- Publicity to home gardeners on safety steps they can take. This includes in-store information.
Our Member Advisory provides further insight into this approach and a Consumer Brief is also available for download for you to distribute to customers.
While we will have more details on this year’s retailer programme shortly, key steps for retailers include staff awareness, having masks for sale at POS and growing media display areas, and signage and ensuring customers are aware of the risks.
Gardening is a safe and healthy pastime, but there are some risks. We all need to be proactive about understanding and managing those risks.
... read more
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©2016 NZPPI
New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated
(formery
The Nursery & Garden Industry Association of New Zealand)
PO Box 3443, Wellington 6140
Level 5, 23 Waring Taylor Street, Wellington
P: 04 918 3511 | F: 04 499 9589
E: info@nzppi.co.nz | W: www.nzppi.co.nz
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