What is PIAS?

Primary Industry Advisory Services is a programme to strengthen the advisory sector. It aims to boost the number of advisers available that are appropriately trained to give farm system-level advice. This will ensure advisers can provide robust advice and support producers with decision-making to improve their environmental and economic performance.

The PIAS programme aims to:

• attract more people into advisory careers
• develop adviser skills and knowledge
• give farmers more confidence that advice is coming from the right experts.

Who are primary industry advisers?

Primary producers get advice from a variety of sources, including:

• independent advisers and consultants (such as agricultural or environmental consultants)
• financial and business services (such as accountants)
• business goods and service providers (such as feed suppliers or vets)
• industry and public good organisations
• processors and exporters.

What is the PIAS programme doing?

The PIAS programme has a number of workstreams underway.

Producer research

Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research is looking at how producers currently make use of the advisory sector. This research will be published in 2021.

Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research

Read a literature review on primary industry advisory services in New Zealand [PDF, 684 KB]

System and workforce research

Scarlatti and Geosocial Technologies are producing an overview of the advisory sector, and identifying how it can be improved. This will include a social network analysis that shows relationships between different sources of advice. The research will be published in 2021.

Advisory career attraction and development

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is looking at ways to build the capability, capacity, and diversity of the advisory workforce, including attracting more people into the advisory sector.

Meet Erica – Agricultural and environmental consultant, and primary industry champion – YouTube

National certification scheme for farm environment plan advisers

MPI is developing a national certification scheme to certify advisers that develop farm environment plans. The scheme will ensure advisers give high quality and consistent advice when they develop farm environment plans and give producers and regional councils greater confidence in the advisers they hire. The scheme is being developed in collaboration with industry good bodies and regional councils.

Regional education

MPI provides regional seminars and events where advisers can get together and learn about important issues in the primary sector.

This page will be updated when the next events are confirmed.

Who to contact

If you have questions about PIAS, email info@mpi.govt.nz