A goat milk infant formula industry is being mooted for Hawke's Bay with claims it could generate $1.5 billion for the region over the next 10 years - averaging about as much per year as the dairy cattle industry did at its payout peaks over the past two years.
The potential is contained in an economic impact report prepared for Business Hawke's Bay which food and beverage programme manager Catherine Rusby says has been working "behind the scenes" for six months investigating the opportunity.
It is now planning a one-day conference in Napier on July 2, putting the factors before those who may be interested in becoming involved, from farming goats to production.
"There is a true opportunity for Hawke's Bay to become the place in New Zealand for a non-bovine infant formula industry from start to finish," Ms Rusby said.
"We're considering a supply chain that produces a fully value-added product all created in Hawke's Bay, from breeding and raising the goats or sheep, milking them, to processing the milk into powder, packaging and exporting the finished product through Napier Port." "Hawke's Bay can have an end-to-end industry right here," she said.
