Nature Conservancy signs the Plant Buyers’ Accord.

The Plant Buyers’ Accord Secretariat has been delighted to see the growth of both the Plant Pass scheme and the Plant Buyers’ Accord in 2022.

The New Zealand arm of the global environmental non-government organisation, The Nature Conservancy, has become the latest signatory to the Plant Buyers’ Accord.

The Nature Conservancy’s programme of work recognises that sustainable development is key to addressing environmental challenges while ensuring the long-term strength of the economy and the preservation of Aotearoa’s unique culture.

They join six other signatories who have committed to use their influence to encourage plant producers and nurseries to join Plant Pass. MPI is the lead and founding signatory of the Plant Buyer’s Accord, which was established to improve biosecurity standards across New Zealand’s plant production supply chain. The other five signatories are New Zealand Avocado, Kiwifruit Vine Health, Department of Conservation, Waikato Regional Council and Auckland Council.

Dr Imogen Bassett, Biosecurity Principal Advisor at Auckland Council, says “being a signatory to the Plant Buyers’ Accord has given us the opportunity to bring awareness of pests and pathogens across our plant production supply chain. Good plant biosecurity is essential in our role as a purchaser and funder of plants. We would like to encourage other councils to join the Plant Buyers’ Accord to be part of the conversation, support each other and work collaboratively to take a proactive approach to biosecurity that helps protect New Zealand’s unique natural environment and way of life.”

There is much interest from prospective signatories and we encourage all bodies who may be purchasers, funders or influencers of plant producers and nurseries to get in contact here or read more at Plant Buyers' Accord — Plant Pass.