Hon Nathan Guy

Minister for Primary Industries

29 September 2015

Speech to APEC Food Security conference - Piura, Peru

Mr Chairman – thank you for this opportunity and for Peru’s excellent hosting of this important event.

New Zealand has a formidable delegation here of business and Government representatives.

As a small economy in the South Pacific, engaging with the other 20 APEC economies is vitally important for us.

We take our role very seriously, and see it as an opportunity to engage and influence food security policies.

Reaching long lasting food security in the Asia Pacific region is heavily reliant on establishing stable trade flows between economies, and increasing involvement for farmers, harvestors and processors in the global value chain.

Much of New Zealand’s economic wellbeing has been built on the success of our food and agriculture sectors, ensuring our farmers and producers are responding to market signals and producing products that consumers want.

We have a population of 4.7 million and we produce enough food to feed 40 million people, which is exported to 150 economies worldwide.

Trade flows have enriched New Zealand, providing a stable economy and helping build long term relationships around the world.

What is often forgotten is that trade is not just about trading of goods and services, but also building people to people ties. This has helped drive an influx of tourists to New Zealand.

Through trade, the APEC community has the ability to establish an adequate supply of safe, nutritious food.

Trade allows systems and protocols to be recognised and streamlined, ultimately reducing hold-ups at the border.

Non-tariff barriers continue to be of concern to many economies. They undermine regional food security and hurt small businesses who don’t have the resources to satisfy this unnecessary red tape. These barriers reduce opportunities for companies to grow and develop.

It’s important to recognise the role of the private sector as it is they – not the Government – who create and provide food.

As some economies talk of wanting to become self-sufficient by discouraging imports, they are actually undermining food security.

Thin markets are often unable to cope with supply shocks like droughts and natural disasters, or seasonality production curves.

Through APEC we have the tools necessary to enhance food security for the region.

We need to move faster using the most proven policies and effective relationships to benefit all out people.

Thank you.

ends

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