Think tank warns future international threats could materially impact New Zealand's food security
A report by a Wellington-based public policy institute warns that rising international tensions, in particular after the Iran war and tightening Pacific trade lanes, could materially affect New Zealand's long-term food security. It urges strategic stockpiles and domestic agritech investment.
A new report from a Wellington-based public policy institute warns that rising international tensions, especially after the Iran war and tightening Pacific trade lanes, could materially affect New Zealand's long-term food security. The think tank urged the government to build greater self-sufficiency in fertiliser, animal feed and other key inputs.
New Zealand imports most of its phosphate and potash, and a large share of its high-protein animal-feed concentrates, from countries linked to the broader Middle East trade route. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal earlier this year have already lengthened delivery times and pushed up costs for the country's farmers.
The report recommends a strategic stockpile of fertilisers, accelerated investment in domestic agritech and a review of free-trade agreements to add resilience clauses. Officials at the Ministry for Primary Industries said they were studying the recommendations but cautioned that full self-sufficiency would be costly and logistically difficult given the country's small population and dispersed geography.
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