Dairy, sheep, beef and poultry farming and their associated product processing are our key strengths, however there are an increasing number of small, agile, innovative locally-owned food production companies adding diversity to Taranaki’s food bowl in areas such as coffee, honey, craft alcohol, fresh produce, specialty chocolate, and baked goods.
Tapuae Roa identified ‘future foods’ as a key area for regional growth as food production could be significantly leveraged by extending Taranaki’s farm-to-plate strengths and boosting additional transformation of our commodities into branded food products. The vision being to transpose Taranaki from a ‘good food producing region’ to an entrepreneurial, vibrant, engaged fast-growing food production region, at the leading edge of innovation and food trends.
To establish a specialist centre where food innovation and establishment can be encouraged, businesses can acquire product development support, clusters and coalitions can form around common goals, and global trends in food can be showcased. The Future Foods Centre would build on the foundation services already established in Taranaki to assist the food production sector, however reflects a significant step-up in support, industry engagement, clustering and emphasis on product innovation.
A focus on new projects and food production opportunities which could expand Taranaki’s offering. This could include e.g. experimental cultivation of new plants, crops and agricultural systems, as well as undertaking market scans and proactively identifying and acting on new priorities.
Promoting and positioning Taranaki as a progressive food region and conveying a distinctive, authentic story. This would support the marketing of local food companies with the region’s unique advantages, as well as showcasing through food tourism, events and hospitality.
A programme of knowledge and technology transfer linked to the broader Future Foods initiative that focuses on improved productivity and profitability as well as investigating and expanding into new ventures. There is an opportunity to harness the energies and interests of landowners and those within the farming sector of Taranaki wishing to learn, trial and showcase new farming ventures and systems, extending and building on Taranaki’s primary sector strengths and value chain opportunities.
Sign up for Enterprise News