New Zealand’s wood supply chain is a NZ$1billion cost centre. Currently, it’s estimated that, as an industry, it is leaking around NZ$150m each year. Neither the forest owners nor service enterprises are capturing this loss. This declining level of industry financial performance is not sustainable with New Zealand forestry’s international competitiveness seriously at risk. Resin Forest Engineering Research Director Bruce Easton is bringing together a range of key issues and a group of international and local experts as part of an industry summit with the objective to move the industry forward with a common vision.

This event will engage New Zealand’s key forestry enterprises to consider adopting an industry coalition for applied & pure research coupled to technology transfer as a basis for real productivity growth. It will require a strategy of investment in forest engineering capability across the supply chain. Speakers at the July Summit will profile the case to establish R&D investment in the harvesting supply chain as a key input to economic growth and profitability. The 2008 Industry Summit will strive to educate participants on current practices in the supply chain, promote opportunities and quantify performance gaps. Speakers will be presenting examples of well executed outcomes in other leading forest products countries. They will demonstrate that a blend of applied and pure research is fundamental to sustained productivity growth. Further details on the July Summit can be found by contacting gordon.thomson@innovatek.co.nz