Kate Scott: HortNZ CEO on the roadmap to double farmgate returns by 2035

There’s hope the horticulture sector will see a massive boost over the next decade. 

A roadmap has been unveiled to double farmgate returns by 2035.  

Actions aimed at increasing value include building consumer understanding, mapping domestic supply chain vulnerabilities, and establishing an online horticulture library.  

HortNZ Chief Executive Kate Scott says they're in a strong position to succeed.  

She told Mike Hosking the value of having a really broad and ambitious goal is it gives a sense of purpose to the sector. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Horticulture sector. A new roadmap goal is to double farm
gate returns by twenty thirty five. Policy, workforce, labor and exports.
The future proofing of the industry basically is what we're
looking at here. Kate Scott is Hot New Zealand's chief
executive and is with us. Good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm morning to you too, mate.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
Have you got buy in from all the growers and
the farmers and the workers.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Look, that's a great question. I worked the early phases
of talking about implementation of our art Era of Horticultural
Action Plan. So a lot of the work that the
team are doing is going out to share what those
priorities are, what the outcomes that we're seeking are, and
trying to actually create their opportunity for thee to contribute
to it.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Because the diversity of the sector is quite something. I mean,
we can talk about kiwi fruit and go who they're
going well, but I mean there's a lot of stuff
grown in this country and it's a lot you know,
everyone's got their own story, haven't they. How do you
bring all that together?

Speaker 2 (00:48):
Look, that's part of both the challenge and the opportunity
for the horticulture sector. If I'm being honest, I think.
You know, we have over one hundred and three different
types of crops that are growing and they are very diversure,
whether you grow them in Northoland or all the way
down in Southland. And look, each of our crops are
at different spaces on their journey when it comes to

(01:08):
you know, how do they meet the market? Are they
domesticly focused in terms of their crops? Are they export focused?
So I guess that that is the complexity, But that's
also the value that having a really broad and ambitious
goal around you know, doubling the farm gate value of
horticulture brands. That gives a sense of purpose to our sector.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah, you talk about research providers, what role does research
science stuff we haven't thought about play in the next
ten years? Do you reckon?

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Look? In my view, you know, the success of the
culture sector today has actually been underpinned by a lot
of the science work that's already been done. If you
look at every fruit, if you look at apples in particular,
there's been a huge amount of work that's been done
in terms of those what we call PBRs for those
pliant variety rights and the ability to actually then create
brands off the back of those exceptional breeds of fruit

(01:58):
and cult of ours. The fruit is actually the value,
and so how do we continue to focus on that? Science,
as you well know, is a space that is changing frequently,
and I think the role of technology will continue to
have an important role in horticulture as well.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
The government, is it trade deals and market access? Is
that what we need them for?

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Look, I think that's an element of it. But we
also need to make sure that we're working alongside government
because a lot of the other regulatory and policy settings
also underpin the success of the sector, that's for sure.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
Okay, do you ever say enough singular voice? So zespre
is a good example? Is there enough when you talk
of hot in general, enough singular voice in the global
market to go? This is from New Zealand as opposed
to Brian, Bruce and Sharon who grow all these vegetables.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah. Look, I think Despery is a great example within
our sector in terms of the marketing of kiwifruits to
the world. We've then got in New Zealand apple and
years to do the same on behalf of the apple pear growers.
But look at as something that the sector is con
nearly working on how do we continue to collaborate so
that we can have some really clear and collective messaging

(03:06):
about how amazing that the fruit and vegetable basket of
New Zealand.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
Ext well, good luck with the Kate appreciated Cat Scott Hort,
New Zealand Tube executive.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
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