Glossary

agriculture
The science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

animal welfare
Meeting the needs of animals such as adequate, food, water, shelter, space and exercise. 

aquaculture
The cultivation of aquatic organisms (such as fish or shellfish) especially for food.

biosecurity
The set of measures taken to stop, limit or manage the threat posed by the introduction of a pest or disease into New Zealand.

disease
A condition which affects the normal physical function of part or all of a plant or animal.

domestic market
Something that is made to be sold to people locally rather than exported overseas.

Exclusive Economic Zone
An area of coastal water and seabed within a certain distance of a country's coastline, to which the country claims exclusive rights for fishing, drilling, and other economic activities.

exports
Products which are bought by a company or people overseas and need to be sent to that country.

food poisoning
Illness caused by food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or toxins.

forestry
The science or practice of planting, managing, and caring for forests.

horticulture
The cultivation of a garden, orchard, or nursery to produce flowers, fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants.

imports
Products which are bought from overseas and brought into the country by ship or plane.

industry
The process of making products by using machinery and factories or a group of businesses that provide a particular product or service.

invasive
A plant, animal or disease which is usually not native and spreads widely.

Ministry for Primary Industries Manatū Ahu Matua MPI
MPI is the New Zealand government department charged with overseeing, managing and regulating the farming, fishing, food, animal welfare, biosecurity, and forestry sectors of New Zealand's primary industries.

monitoring & surveillance (biosecurity)
Monitoring and surveillance involves looking for and recording the presence, absence and population levels of pests. Regular monitoring is a part of biosecurity and gives the best chance of spotting a new or established pest soon after it arrives.

mussel spat
Very young shellfish, and the raw material of mussel farms. Mussel spat develop from a floating larval stage. The larvae attach themselves to seaweed or ropes and develop into miniature shellfish.

native
Originating, growing, or produced in a certain place or region, also known as indigenous.

pathogen
A germ such as a virus, bacteria, parasite, or fungus which causes disease.

primary industry
An industry involved in the extraction and collection of natural resources, such as coal and timber, as well as by activities such as farming and fishing. A company in a primary industry can also be involved in turning natural resources into products.

productivity
A measure of how efficiently things are made. A farm is more productive if it can produce more from less, such as more wool from fewer sheep.

Quota Management System QMS
The New Zealand QMS helps ensure sustainable use of fisheries resources through the direct control of harvest levels for each species in a particular area. Set numbers are allowed to be caught by companies and by individuals who fish recreationally.

selective breeding
The process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to selectively develop particular traits or characteristics, for example breeding from sheep that have finer wool or more lambs.

viticulture

The science, production and study of grapes.