Kiwifruit estimated to generate $6.14 billion by 2030

The joint Plant & Food Research - Zespri kiwifruit breeding programme will support a $3.5 billion increase in New Zealand’s GDP by 2030 and the creation of 29,000 jobs, according to a new economic report.

This industry growth is based primarily on the success of Zespri^® SunGold Kiwifruit, which was released in 2011 from the breeding programme. The University of Waikato report concludes that without Zespri^® SunGold Kiwifruit the New Zealand kiwifruit industry would be less than half the size of its 2030 projections.

“Our kiwifruit breeding programme is a true partnership between science, industry and government,“ says Dr Bruce Campbell, COO of Plant & Food Research. “The long-term commitment by both Zespri and the New Zealand Government in the kiwifruit breeding programme has allowed us to deliver a game-changing new kiwifruit, for the horticultural industry and the nation. This is a great example of a NZ Inc investment focused on creating value by delighting consumers.”

The kiwifruit breeding programme is funded through a partnership of investment by Zespri, the New Zealand Government and Plant & Food Research. Research is conducted into breeding new cultivars, as well as protecting them from disease and pests, and optimising growing, harvesting, nutritional content and storage to ensure consumers can rely on a consistent product with every purchase.

“The cultivar ‘Zesy002’, known to growers as Gold3 and marketed as Zespri^® SunGold Kiwifruit, is the result of many years of research, not only the breeding of the cultivar but understanding how it grows and the best way to manage the orchard to produce a fruit that consumers will enjoy,” says Dr Kieran Elborough, General Manager Science New Cultivar Innovation. “Knowing our cultivars are a success on the international market is incredibly rewarding. This report demonstrates the value that our science can contribute, not only for growers but for the wider New Zealand economy.”

Key highlights of the report include:

• The kiwifruit industry contribution to New Zealand GDP will increase from $2.6 billion in 2015/16 to $6.14 billion in 2030, driven by SunGold.

• The kiwifruit industry generates 10,762 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs for the BOP, 380 FTE jobs for Northland and 2,475 FTE for Maori today.

• By 2030, 14,329 more jobs will be created in the Bay of Plenty and 506 in Northland thanks to kiwifruit industry growth.

• The employment contribution to New Zealand of the kiwifruit industry is expected to be an additional 29,000 FTE by 2030.

• The kiwifruit industry contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) for Bay of Plenty will increase 135 percent by 2030 (from $867 million in 2016/17 to $2.04 billion), and by 135% for Northland ($30.6 million to $72 million).

• Maori grower revenue is estimated to increase from $271 million to $638 million per year by 2030 and BOP Maori wages and salary set to double from $22.1 million to $52 million (+135 percent).

• Zespri’s new gold variety (SunGold/Gold3) is expected to create an additional $310 million revenue per year for iwi across New Zealand by 2030.

• Without Zespri SunGold, the NZ industry would be less than half the size of its 2030 projections.