New Zealand’s seed sector pumped almost $800 million into the NZ economy last year. A new economic impact report shows that our world class seed production contributes much more to NZ’s bottom line than many realise, according to NZ Grain and Seed Trade Association General Manager Thomas Chin. In 2018 NZ seed production supported 4320 full time jobs ranging from seed breeding, research, multiplication, marketing, processing and distribution to ancillary services such as seed testing and brokering. Other downstream users of NZ grown seeds are arable, horticulture and market garden growers who provide crops for human consumption, including wheat, barley, maize, oats and fresh vegetables used by local millers, bakers, beverage producers, food processors and supermarkets.

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