The new Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Penny Simmonds, wants to give additional funding to New Zealand's burgeoning advanced technology sector. However, recent reporting shows the likely source of this new funding will be the existing funding already allocated to agriculture, the environment, and human health.

What does a potential loss of funding mean for future farming innovation? Is this a bad idea for one of New Zealand's highest-performing sectors? And can private funding fill the void?

Joining the conversation is Brendan O'Connell, CEO of AgriTech New Zealand