Events

Last week’s Biosecurity Business Pledge Forum in Auckland brought members together for an afternoon of insight, connection, and commitment to strengthening New Zealand’s biosecurity system. The theme of the event was “Biosecurity isn’t where we compete – it’s where we win together.”

The forum opened with a panel exploring how shifting market conditions and evolving global trade dynamics are reshaping expectations on both businesses and the biosecurity system. Stuart Anderson, Biosecurity New Zealand joined Mark Bull, Silver Fern Farms and Stephen Pipes, Oceanbridge to discuss the pressures and opportunities created by supply chain disruption, emerging markets, and heightened consumer expectations.

Then we focused on the border. Mike Inglis, Biosecurity New Zealand along with Megan Wildermoth, NZ Post and Dean O’Callaghan, NZ Customs, shared emerging risks, including rising parcel volumes, the growth of e-commerce, and the pathways criminals are exploiting to move drugs into New Zealand. While risk is evolving, so too is the system’s readiness, with technology, intelligence, social licence and partnerships playing an ever-growing role.

Beccy Ganley from the Bioeconomy Science Institute shared valuable insights on the ROI of biosecurity research—and what that means for business. She shared that the total economic impact of pests, pathogens and weeds, primarily through losses to our primary industries is $9.2billion per year.

Throughout the afternoon the messages was clear. Together, we’re building resilience and safeguarding New Zealand. Biosecurity is a shared responsibility—and a shared win.