Kiwifruit Vine Health and NZ Avocado both signed the Plant Buyers’ Accord recently, joining the Ministry for Primary Industries as Accord early adopters.

The Accord was established to encourage the uptake of Plant Pass by plant producers. Accord signatories commit to using their influence to support and incentivise plant producers to improve their biosecurity practices through Plant Pass.

The signing by Kiwifruit Vine Health and NZ Avocado comes as nine plant producers become officially Plant Pass certified. The nurseries had been certified under the interim pilot scheme but are now fully certified to the Plant Pass core standard, with some also completing the Myrtle Rust and/or Kauri Dieback modules.

Plant Pass is being officially launched next month to raise further awareness of the new scheme as well as the Plant Buyers’ Accord.

Matt Dolan, CE of NZPPI which manages Plant Pass, said it was fantastic to have three signatories to the Accord and nine certified producers prior to the official launch. More signatories may come on board in the next few weeks.

“It’s really pleasing to see the expanding commitment to biosecurity best practice within our sector. Plant Pass and the Accord gives producers, buyers and specifiers the tools to protect our domestic plant trade and ensure we only grow, sell and distribute healthy plants.”

Plant Pass also provides a solution for native plant producers subject to legislative requirements under the forthcoming Kauri dieback (Phytophthora agathidicida) National Pest Management Plan (Pa NPMP). A Myrtle Rust plan, which will impact many more producers, is expected later in the year.

“Plant Pass is a one-stop-shop for producer biosecurity requirements to meet growing expectations of plant buyers, specifiers and regulators.”