Clever food technology

Producing safe food is one way to add value to our exports; exporting our expertise around safe food chains, and food authentication is another.

“Given we are going to grow the value of the industry, part of that has got to be exporting our IP,” says KPMG New Zealand global head of agribusiness Ian Proudfoot. “We need to recognise that food safety and integrity, the ability to authenticate food is strategically important, and lead the world in that sort of technology innovation.”

As well as Oritain, which fingerprints food to reassure consumers and protect brands against food fraud, there are clever Kiwi apps like FoodEye, Social Code’s DrinkSmart, GoalPost and Kaitown, which are already helping New Zealanders make healthy food choices, manage drinking and quit smoking – there’s nothing to say we couldn’t take this tech to the world.

Then there’s the opportunity to export Kiwi food safety expertise, says São Paulo-based NZTE trade commissioner Ralph Hays.

New Zealand is already held in high regard in Brazil and there are opportunities to show producers the ropes as the country develops its own export sector.

“The quality requirements of international products continue to increase and New Zealand is seen to be at the forefront of that on the back of 10 years of experience,” Hays says. “Brazil has tended to be quite inward looking but with the economic situation and looking to increase export capabilities, they see New Zealand as someone who can provide advice on technology and expertise.”