The New Zealand Institute of Economic Development today released a ground-breaking report, showing that New Zealand’s economy would lose up to $11.4 billion without crop protection products – and that crops would lose 30 percent of their value.

The report covers forestry, pasture, horticulture, field crops and vegetable production.

Agcarm chief executive, Mark Ross, says the report highlights the importance of the crop protection industry to New Zealand’s economy.

“Not only does the industry have an important part to play in supporting the economy, it is also vital for producing safe food and protecting our environment,” says Ross.

Crop protection products have a far-reaching impact on our land-based sectors. “Without these products, horticulture, for example, would lose 75% of the value of its crops. A severely reduced kiwifruit production would have resulted from the 2010 PSA outbreak too,” adds Ross.

From managing damaging pests and diseases, through to research and disposal, the industry is committed to the responsible use of crop protection products, including ensuring that any waste plastic containers are recycled and repurposed through the Agrecovery programme.

Our industry focuses on stewardship and ensuring that there continues to be a variety of new products to offer pest control solutions for growers and farmers. Agrichemicals that are more environmentally-friendly, more effective and more targeted allow farmers to better control target pests, while protecting human health and allowing beneficial flora and fauna to prosper.

Click here to access the report

The Environmental Protection Authority is seeking submissions on an application for the reassessment of the hazardous substance methyl bromide.
Methyl bromide is used as a fumigant in the quarantine and pre-shipment treatment of logs, produce, flowers and other goods.
The EPA’s chemical reassessment programme reviews hazardous substances already approved in New Zealand. Under New Zealand law, a chemical's approval does not expire. Reassessment is the only formal legal process we can use to review the approval of a chemical classed as a hazardous substance.
In April 2018, the EPA decided that grounds existed for a reassessment of methyl bromide, following an application by Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction Inc (STIMBR).
Grounds to reassess were granted based on data that showed New Zealand’s use of the fumigant has increased from over 400 tonnes a year in 2010, to more than 600 tonnes in 2016. One of the criteria to meet grounds for reassessment under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act is a significant change in the quantity of substance imported into, or manufactured in, New Zealand.
Earlier this year, STIMBR applied for a reassessment of the approval for methyl bromide.
The EPA is processing this application as a modified reassessment. This means that the reassessment will only consider specific aspects of the approval, such as the required controls.
The approval to import or manufacture methyl bromide cannot be revoked in this type of reassessment.
Users of methyl bromide in New Zealand are required to recapture and safely dispose of the gas used in their fumigation activity from October 2020. The timeframe was set by the 2010 reassessment decision, to allow for the development, acquisition and installation of suitable equipment for recapture.
Submissions on the reassessment application close at 5.00 pm on 29 August 2019.
Visit the consultation page for more information, including submission guidelines and a timeline.
See information on the chemical reassessment programme

Congratulations to Mark Self and his team at Genera on their recent success in the Export New Zealand Bay of Plenty Awards 2018.

Genera won the Excellence in Innovation Award for its work supporting the New Zealand forest industry through the introduction of phosphine as an in-transit fumigant and the development of methyl bromide scrubbing technologies.

The introduction of phosphine in 2001 has reduced the need for methyl bromide by close to 2,000 tonnes per annum in 2018 – about 80% less than what would be needed if phosphine was not available.

​Recent developments of liquid scrubbing technologies, for use at the end of fumigations prior to venting, have further reduced methyl bromide emissions. From 2020 onward, scrubbing technologies will need to be used in conjunction with methyl bromide fumigations.