Kia ora koutou,
As 2025 draws to a close, I want to thank you, our members and partners for your ongoing support of New Zealand’s dynamic agritech community. Together, we’re part of a purposeful ecosystem that continues to show resilience and creativity, even in challenging conditions.
A highlight this year has been our Agritech Unleashed event series, connecting communities of agritech practice around the motu. These gatherings help build a shared system of influence and strengthen engagement across the sector. We’re especially grateful to our sponsors and volunteers for making these events possible. Our Agritech Unleashed series will continue into 2026 (Auckland, April; Tauranga, July and Dunedin, November), further driving momentum across the sector.
Our community has much to be proud of and we’re only getting started. A recent Boston Consulting Group report shows our agritech sector is growing faster than global benchmarks and this is a reminder that innovation and practical ingenuity is in our DNA. Agritech is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of New Zealand’s prosperity, uniting our food and fibre heritage with the technologies shaping the future of food systems. Across the agritech landscape, the signs of change are clear. Collaboration between large agribusinesses and innovators is deepening, creating new pathways for adoption and partnership. Data exchange and shared go-to-market approaches are becoming more common, reflecting growing trust and maturity within the ecosystem. Investors are also showing greater confidence and clarity in identifying pathways for scale. Meanwhile, our cornerstone science system continues to align with sector growth and global impact.
Looking ahead, our Executive Council is focused on making every effort count. From strengthening collaboration to driving adoption, building global connections and supporting innovation that delivers value for our members and Aotearoa New Zealand.
My sincere thanks to Brendan, Kylie, and all our Executive Council members for their commitment throughout the year. Kylie’s leadership and energy will leave a lasting legacy on our organisation and we’ll miss her now that she has left.
We close 2025 with optimism for what lies ahead. The strength of our community is our people and we’re very well placed to make 2026 another year of impact and progress for New Zealand through agritech.
Brenna Townshend
Chair
AgriTechNZ