Trade and Associate Climate Change Minister Tim Groser has told farmers the country has to be on board with climate change or risk losing trade opportunities.
Mr Groser delivered the blunt assessment to a Federated Farmers Conference in Methven today.
He says it is not a case of other nations, or Governments, imposing trade barriers, but that customers may walk away from New Zealand produce on environmental grounds.Mr Groser says it is a real risk which agricultural exporters should not take lightly.
The Trade Minister says New Zealand is facing the most promising and positive outlook for trade in 40 years. He says where 50 years ago the nation was the food basket for Britain, it now has the chance to be the food basket for Asia and its middle class consumers.With predictions food production will have to double to meet demand in the next four decades, Mr Groser says there are major opportunities for New Zealand exporters to be grasped.
