Jeremy Baker, Chief Executive at Muka Tangata, recently delivered an insightful presentation on the Food and Fibre sector, highlighting key facts and ambitious goal for its future and the importance of training and upskilling as part of that future.
The food and fibre sector is a cornerstone of the New Zealand economy and our largest export earner, employing over 350,000 people and training more than 30,000 individuals at any given time. Remarkably, it generates around $150,000 in export value per worker each year—outpacing every other sector of the economy.
The government has set an ambitious objective to double export values over the next decade, nearly all of this growth will be found through food and fibre exports. Achieving this will necessitate substantial investments in technology and skills, alongside a vocational education and training (VET) system that ensures a robust skills pipeline for the food and fibre sector.
To realise this goal, targeted investment in training and upskilling our people at all levels is crucial, which makes sense given the sector’s significant economic contributions. New research and innovative thinking will guide this investment – we must tailor our approach to meet the specific needs of the food and fibre industry, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model used for other professions. Adapting to the evolving workforce and equipping employers with the necessary tools for growth is essential.
To support these objectives and foster the required research and innovation, Food and Fibre CoVE is actively engaged in numerous projects addressing VET requirements. You can explore our complete portfolio of initiatives here.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the relevant portfolio manager if you have any questions or would like more information about a specific project.
Posted as LinkedIn article 21 October 2023