Grain, commodities under study

The Arable Food Industry Council research strategy has been launched in Wellington.

Council chairman Vaughan Ormsby said the strategy had been developed to move the industry from "commodity production to products fit for purpose".

"A good example of this is moving from producing wheat to producing specific wheats for specialised breads."

The council says the shift could significantly reduce imports, increase exports and deliver an additional $1 billion in income during the next seven years.