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PGIC's role in importing plant germplasm

The Plant Germplasm Import Council (PGIC) was set up in 2020. PGIC facilitates open communication between plant importers, industry representatives, and MPI.

It's working to:

  • make improvements to the import process
  • develop a jointly owned import strategy. 

The terms of reference has more details about the council's work.

Plant Germplasm Import Council terms of reference [PDF, 237 KB]

PGIC's strategy

On the 31 March 2022, PGIC launched a strategy to improve the efficiency and operation of the plant material import pathway.

Plant Germplasm Import Pathway strategy [PDF, 6.9 MB]

One-pager summary [PDF, 148 KB]

Plant germplasm imports will help our economic recovery

The Government has a roadmap for the food and fibres sector. It's called "Fit for a Better World". It puts the primary sector at the front of our post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

Accessing new plant germplasm:

  • is central to our export-led recovery
  • will continue to grow and support New Zealand's primary sector.

Fit for a Better World

Members of the PGIC

The council has 10 industry members:

  • Thomas Chin
  • Matthew Dolan
  • Zac Hanley
  • Ed Massey
  • Darrell O'Brien
  • Morgan Rogers
  • Brad Siebert
  • Bruno Simpson
  • Leanne Stewart
  • Andy Warren

Two MPI staff are on the council:

  • Fleur Francois
  • Lisa Winthrop

The independent chair is Murray Sherwin.

Find out about the council members [PDF, 909 KB]

Meeting summaries

PGIC board meeting – 6 November 2023 [PDF, 177 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 3 July 2023 [PDF, 174 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 13 March 2023 [PDF, 184 KB] 

PGIC board meeting – 21 November 2022 [PDF, 188 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 22 August 2022 [PDF, 184 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 23 May 2022 [PDF, 203 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 21 March 2022 [PDF, 152 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 22 November 2021 [PDF, 153 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 6 September 2021 [PDF, 183 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 28 June 2021 [PDF, 123 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 12 April 2021 [PDF, 173 KB]

PGIC board meeting – 12 February 2021 [PDF, 124 KB]

Who to contact

If you have suggestions on improving our plant germplasm import process, questions about plant germplasm imports or PGIC, email pgic@mpi.govt.nz

MPI business units