The Coriolis Report into New Zealand's agritech sector was commissioned by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to clarify New Zealand agritech companies' export opportunities.
The report said New Zealand had a long history of global success across many agricultural sectors, and particular strength in pastoral farming.
The agricultural sector contributed more than 50% of New Zealand's total exports, or about $30 billion, in 2013.
The agritech export sector grew at a 4% a year compounded growth rate over the past five years. Within the sector, ''predominantly agritech'' grew at 9% while ''partially agritech'' products grew at 1%.
Coriolis said the stand-out category, in terms of exports, was animal health products, at $311 million.
New Zealand's disease status made medicaments sourced from New Zealand globally desirable.
Following closely were fencing supplies or equipment and machinery and systems - each with $307 million worth of export sales.
Growth sector categories were animal genetics, a result of recent live cow exports to China. Plant genetics were a $233 million category, growing at 10% a year, including grass seeds and vegetables for sowing. Machinery and systems were growing at 8%.
Comparing successful categories with those struggling to maintain their business identified five indicators for success.
They were:
• Difficult to replicate.
• Use of sophisticated technology.
• Protection of IP by patents.
• A well-established and integrated skill set.
• A consumer willingness to pay a premium.
''By contrast, products and categories likely to struggle involve simple systems and manufacturing processes, unsophisticated technologies or are low-margin products'' the report said.
New Zealand's agritech exports were heavily weighted to the Western markets of Europe, North America and Australia. Those countries took about three-quarters of all exports across the full ambit of categories.
Of those markets, $488 million (28%) was exported to Australia, $260 million was exported to the United States and $89 million went to the Netherlands, a major entry point into Europe.
The US market included a significant volume of machinery and systems, plus fencing supplies. Exports to Europe were mainly plant seeds.
Another significant export market was China, with $90 million of mainly animal stock exports, the report said.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said the agriculture sector played a major role in the economy.
The latest research showed innovative agritech systems generated significant exports in their own right and provided the opportunity to deliver much more for New Zealand in the future.
''New Zealand has historically underperformed in agritech exports compared with other advanced agricultural nations.
However, our exports are now growing more quickly than our competitors and opportunities for more growth exist across a wide range of markets.''
The removal of the dairy quota system was opening up opportunities in Europe and New Zealand's free trade agreement with China, along with China's substantial demand for meat and dairy products, was providing New Zealand agritech companies with further opportunities.
