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SAN
15/11/2012 13:06
GENERAL
REL: 1306 HRS Sanford Limited
GENERAL: SAN: Sanford Limited - Press Release
SANFORD LIMITED
SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD
15 November 2012
PRESS RELEASE
Sanford Announces Partnership to Boost Greenshell Mussel Exports
Sanford Limited is the commercial partner behind a $26 million, seven-year
innovation contract announced in Nelson today that will see New Zealand's
famous Greenshell mussels selectively bred for the first time.
The contract between the Ministry for Primary Industries and Shellfish
Production and Technology NZ Limited (SPATnz), which includes commercial
partner, Sanford and research partners, Cawthron Institute and Plant & Food
Research will see $13 million each of public and industry funding invested in
the project in what is being described as the most significant research and
development investment made in New Zealand's Greenshell mussel industry since
the first marine farms were established in the 1970's.
Greenshell mussels are a significant export growth opportunity for Sanford,
which already has both mussel farming and processing operations and exports
around the world. Sanford is also part of a push to grow Greenshell mussel
exports to China, which is now in its second year and seeing growth over 30%.
Sanford Managing Director, Eric Barratt says until now mussels have been
grown from wild spat. He says the commercial implications for now
commercialising the world-leading research techniques that allows spat to be
selectively bred and grown for their taste and size profiles will be
transformative for New Zealand's Greenshell mussel exports.
Mr Barratt was in China last week at the world's largest seafood expo
promoting New Zealand's Greenshell mussels. "This is a highly regarded
product from New Zealand. In being able to take control of the breeding
process, we can create innovative products best suited to the needs and
tastes of our international customers," he said.
"Smart, sustainable aquaculture will be critical to our export success into
the future. For the first time mussel farming will be able to take advantage
of selective breeding in the same way that our sheep, dairy and other primary
exporters have done for decades to gain export premiums for their products."
"Sanford is very pleased to be at the leading edge of taking this research
and making it into a commercial reality working with our SPATnz partners and
the Government to boost this industry."
The project is being announced in Nelson today by the Prime Minister during a
visit to the Cawthron Institute with local Nelson MP, Hon Dr Nick Smith and
will help to underpin the goal of boosting New Zealand aquaculture to a
billion dollar a year industry.
The joint project will involve the development of a shellfish hatchery.
Construction will begin in early 2013, with a hatchery building, nursing
building and three ponds of approximately 1500sq metres each being built
onsite. The first significant quantities of commercially bred mussels are
planned for 2015.
Eric Barratt
Managing Director
Phone: +64 21 325 209
End CA:00229768 For:SAN Type:GENERAL Time:2012-11-15 13:06:48
