New Zealand’s rural economy has been urged to focus on the positive aspects of a multi-billion dollar industry following the recent botulism and nitrate scares.

Federated Farmers President, Bruce Wills has reminded farmers that New Zealand represents an agricultural ‘sweet spot’ of soil, water and temperature intent on doubling export values to NZ$60 billion by 2025.

Following a tense fortnight for the dairy sector, Mr Wills described New Zealand as the ‘Silicon Valley of global farming’.

His message related to three milk powder quality issues, the foremost blunder concerning 38 tonnes of Fonterra’s nutritional protein powder.

Concerns initially mounted after the discovery of Clostridium botulinum in batches of WPC80, a whey protein powder ingredient of baby milk formula.

The New Zealand government then recalled 1,000 tons of the Fonterra product from seven destinations, including China.

A media and government inquisition then ensued, stoked further by China alluding to a ‘three strikes and out policy’.

Fonterra Managing Director Gary Romano announced his resignation from his position before Fonterra and the Ministry for Primary Industries fleshed out a solution.

This week, Westland Milk Products became embroiled in the milk quality debacle. Testing found nitrate levels in lactoferrin were too high to be accepted for the Chinese market.

Westland was quick to dismiss the matter as a food safety issue, saying the quantity lactofferin was only a very minor food ingredient.

National law states nitrate levels are not to succeed 150 parts per million. Westland reported 390 kg worth of powder above this level with one batch having 2198 parts per million.

Further complications related to a batch of New Zealand milk powder that failed Chinese inspection in May.

Mr Wills has advised that the response needs to be measured and focused on constructive solutions.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has responded by increasing the ‘regulatory presence’ at manufacturing plants, upping management reviews and running test simulations for tracking contaminated products are part of ministry plans, explained this week by acting director general Scott Gallacher.

This has been echoed at the top of the industry by Chief Executives Rod Quin of Westland and Theo Spierings of Fonterra.

Mr Spierings has pledged increased vigilance across Fonterra’s nutritional plants. He said that company policy will be to double check and triple check plant hygiene.

Mr Wills concluded that the ‘sweet spot’ should not be shunned but built on to cater for the two extra people in the world each second.