Wednesday 11 May, 2016
New Zealand takes leading role in global food safety and security with inaugural Auckland conference
Registrations are now open for a new global food integrity conference to be held in Auckland on 13 – 14 July.
Now is a key time on the world stage for food safety with regulations and requirements changing worldwide and impacting
the entire food chain of suppliers and producers.
New Zealand’s supply chain with China is at the forefront of the inaugural Food Integrity Conference 2016.
Initiated by local company, Asia Pacific Centre for Food Integrity, the Conference aims to provide a forum for
discussion on current issues facing food producers both in New Zealand and in China.
Developing markets, especially China, are driving New Zealand’s food and beverage export growth with Asia now the
largest destination region.
Asia Pacific Centre for Food Integrity, Executive Director and Conference Organiser, Dr Helen Darling, sees great
potential for New Zealand to play globally as a leader in food safety and security.
“We see this conference as an exciting opportunity for like-minded people to have conversations about the international
regulatory environment,” says Helen.
“We need to avoid everyone reinventing the wheel – New Zealand is a small country and to be competitive in the
international marketplace we need to share knowledge and leadership. This Conference is an exciting and relevant forum
to do this.”
High powered international and local speakers have literally been lining up to speak, says Helen.
“It’s really exciting to see the enthusiasm of both international and New Zealand experts in the food industry lining up
to be involved in the Conference.
I believe it’s an indication of the need for a forum of this kind for food producers, manufacturers and exporters.”
International keynote speakers include Col. John Hoffman from the USA, retired from a 31 year military career, Hoffman
is now with the Food Protection and Defence Institute – a US Department of Homeland Security Centre of Excellence based
at Minnesota University.
Sonia Bradley from the World Bank, Global Food Safety Programme, will start day two of the Conference with a key note
address on Global Food Safety.
Speakers from China include Professor Wu, Chief Scientist, China National Centre of Food Risk Assessment in Beijing; and
Kevin Wang, Editor-in-Chief, China Food Safety Magazine.
Local business woman Rachael Speedy is a vibrant and passionate speaker with a formidable reputation gained from running
her successful company, NZ Premium Foods. Well renowned for exporting premium New Zealand food and beverages to South
East Asia, as well as throughout New Zealand, Rachael is also involved in organising the Conference.
Australasian based Karl Ye, Managing Director, GMP Pharmaceuticals, joins Executive Director Export NZ, Catherine Beard
and Hamish Findlay, General Manager, ESR Ltd to discuss export opportunities.
For a full Conference programme, registration and further details please refer to www.food-integrity-conference.com
New Zealand is fast transitioning from feeding Westerners to feeding the Asia Pacific region.
In 1965, (51 years ago) our food and beverage export to Asia accounted for only 5% of our total export value by
destination. In 2014 it was up to 46%.
ENDS