At Gulfood 2020, where the focus is on ‘Rethinking Food’ for the next 25 years, New Zealand food and beverage companies will highlight how their sustainability measures play an important role in the global food offering.
The New Zealand food sector produces enough food to feed more than 20 million people, around five times its population. In addition, New Zealand dairy products feed around 40 million people globally. According to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the country’s economic and trade promotion agency, top exports to the Middle East include dairy, meat, fruits and seafood.
New Zealand meat exports to the Middle East enjoyed a combined annual growth rate of 7% over the last five years, while fruit exports grew at nearly 9% over the same period. New Zealand exports of fish and other seafood products have doubled since 2018
“Gulfood is one of the biggest events for the New Zealand business community in the Middle East and it’s a great opportunity to share our values, in particular how kaitiakitanga emphasizes the deep kinship between our people and the environment. We’re very excited to bring this relationship to life with some cutting edge mixed-reality experiences, one of the first for Gulfood and the region too, I believe,” says Kevin McKenna, New Zealand’s Consul General in Dubai.
New Zealand’s stringent food safety and biosecurity measures have earned the island nation a global reputation as a trusted supplier of quality products and ingredients to many of the world’s major food and beverage companies. New Zealand has a number of agencies, regulations and initiatives in place to sustainably manage the country’s natural environment, manage fish stocks, and ensure animal welfare standards are maintained.
Its sustainable fisheries initiative and Quota Management System is considered among the best in the world. The country also ranks 17th on the Environmental Performance Index, a benchmark of environmental health and ecosystem vitality in 180 countries.
Commenting on New Zealand’s commitment to sustainability, Tony Martin, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Regional Director for the Middle East, India & Africa said: “As changing consumer preferences drive a shift to more ethical food and drink products, New Zealand F&B companies are well placed to meet this demand. Our ongoing efforts to become leaders in sustainability, food safety, traceability, and animal welfare have gained us international recognition and accolades, but more important than this, is our ability to always strive to contribute in the most ethical way to feeding the planet by continuing to push for improvements at home and abroad.”
