Ep 48 | David MacGibbon on Innovation, Regulation, and the Future of New Zealand Agriculture

In this episode of Asia’s Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions, we sit down with David MacGibbon, CEO of Sipcam New Zealand and board member of the Animal and Plant Health Association of New Zealand, to discuss the role of innovation, regulation, and investment in shaping the future of agriculture.

David shares insights into New Zealand’s dual role as a small nation and a global food powerhouse — feeding over 400 million people each month — and why innovation and smarter regulatory frameworks are vital to keeping its agri-food sector globally competitive.

The conversation explores:

• How regulatory backlogs are slowing access to next-generation agricultural products
• Why innovation “won’t wait for promises” and how New Zealand can regain confidence from global R&D investors
• The importance of balanced, science-based regulation that protects safety while enabling progress
• The impact of policy initiatives like “Going for Growth” on the future of New Zealand’s agtech landscape
• What’s at stake if reform doesn’t happen — and what success could look like

With candid reflections and a forward-looking perspective, David outlines how decisive action, innovation, and proportionate regulation can help New Zealand remain a world leader in agricultural productivity and sustainability.