Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF)

Primary Sector Growth Fund — EOI

Supports New Zealand food and fibre innovation through MPI co-investment partnerships.

New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI, Manatū Ahu Matua) established the Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) in May 2025 as the successor to the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) program. The PSGF operates a rolling Expression of Interest intake with no fixed deadline, accepting applications from primary sector businesses, industry bodies, and food and fibre groups. The fund's stated purpose is to remove barriers to growth for New Zealand's primary sector and to capitalise on new opportunities for the food and fibre value chain. Eligible activities include the development and launch of high-value products and ingredients, innovation converting by-products into valuable outputs, efficiency and productivity improvements across the value chain, and — from April 2026 — water storage and reticulation feasibility projects.

Eligible applicants must be organizations operating in New Zealand's primary sector; for-profit businesses, industry bodies, and food and fibre groups may apply, but MPI will not fund activities that an applicant would be expected to undertake as part of its ordinary core business. Award amounts and co-investment ratios are not published on MPI's website; the predecessor SFF Futures program typically required 50–60% applicant co-funding, but current ratios for PSGF should be confirmed with MPI directly at psgfund@mpi.govt.nz. The application process moves from an initial Expression of Interest through an invitation-only full Application stage, then into Contract, Delivery, and Final Report phases.

Prospective applicants should submit an EOI to initiate the process; MPI evaluates EOIs against four published assessment criteria and invites shortlisted applicants to develop a full application. The PSGF covers the full food and fibre primary sector — agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, aquaculture, and forestry — making it the primary central-government co-investment instrument for primary sector innovation in New Zealand. Organizations working on novel product development, value-chain transformation, or water feasibility work should approach MPI early to confirm eligibility before committing internal resources to a full application.