Funding NZ innovation in food & fibre industries
The Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) is MPI's flagship co-investment programme, backing projects that grow the value of New Zealand's food and fibre industries. If your project can deliver real economic benefits to the sector, BlueRock can help you build a proposal that stands up.
What is the Primary Sector Growth Fund?
Launched in May 2025, the Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) is the government's main grant programme for innovation in NZ's food and fibre sectors. It replaced the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund, with a sharper focus on projects that deliver measurable economic outcomes for New Zealand.
The PSGF is a co-investment fund. MPI contributes up to 40% of total project costs, and you fund the balance. In some cases, where the rationale is strong, MPI may consider funding up to 50%. There is no upper cap on the government investment per project, and MPI will consider multi-million-dollar, multi-year programmes.
The minimum government investment is $250,000, which must be matched by at least $375,000 in industry co-funding. Applications are accepted at any time via an Expression of Interest.
Am I eligible for the PSGF? MPI assesses all applications against four criteria:
Net benefits to New Zealand. Your project must increase profits or reduce costs in the food and fibre value chain, with economic benefits that are realistic and can withstand robust analysis.
Rationale for Crown funding. You need to show what the project could not achieve with private investment alone, and why government co-investment is justified.
A strong project plan. Clear activities, realistic budgets, identified risks, and a direct line from what you do to the benefits you deliver.
Evidence of ability to deliver. Demonstrated organisational capability, financialstability, and a plan to sustain benefits beyond the project period.
How the PSGF process works
The PSGF runs on an openapplication basis, meaning you can submit an Expression of Interest at anytime.
Expression of Interest
Your EOI is a short pitch to MPI. It's used to determine whether your project is likely to meet PSGF requirements and to provide early feedback. MPI reviews your EOI with a focus on project fit, not full detail. This is confidential, though MPI may share it internally or with other government agencies as part of their review.
Invitation to apply
If MPI considers your project a good fit, you'll be invited to submit a full application. Not all EOIs progress to this stage, which is why it's worth investing in a strong pitch from the start.
Full application
The full application is assessed against MPI's four criteria: net benefits to New Zealand, rationale for Crown funding, project plan, and ability to deliver. MPI requires substantiated evidence at this stage.
Contract and project delivery
Successful applicants enter into a funding contract with MPI. This sets out the project milestones, reporting obligations, and co-investment commitments. Once contracted, you deliver the project and report on outcomes. MPI monitors progress throughout and supports you in meeting your reporting requirements.
What projects does the PSGF fund?
The PSGF is broad in scope. It covers projectsthroughout the food and fibre value chain, from farming and horticulture toforestry, fisheries, and processing. Projects can be economic, environmental,social, or cultural in their primary purpose, but all applications must showhow the project will deliver direct economic benefits to the sector.
In practice, that means the project must eitherincrease profits or reduce production costs somewhere in New Zealand's food andfibre value chain, or create a novel market opportunity.
Examples of projects the PSGF supports
- Developing and launching high-value products, ingredients, or materials.
- Innovation that transforms by-products into higher-value outputs.
- Testing solutions to reduce costs and improve efficiency across the value chain.
- Improving productivity through precision agriculture or new technology.
- Opening new export markets or developing new market access pathways.
- Scaling proven innovations to achieve sector-wide adoption.
- Pre-construction feasibility for large or community-scale water storage and reticulation projects (from April 2026).
What the PSGF will not fund
The PSGF does not fund activity that anorganisation would be expected to carry out as part of its core business. It also cannot be used to fund proposals that are entirely export-focused, to subsidise commercial operations, or to fund capital expenditure that supports existing commercial activity. Pilot capital expenditure for new product development or prototyping can qualify.
How we work with you
Assess your project fit
Not every project is a good fit for the PSGF, and finding that out early saves time. We review your project against MPI's criteria and give you an honest read on your chances before you invest in a full proposal.
Build your case for funding
The PSGF is competitive. MPI needs to see a clear economic case, a credible project plan, and a strong rationale for why Crown funding is needed. We help you develop and structure that case so it holds up under scrutiny.
Write your EOI and application
Your Expression of Interest is your first pitch to MPI, and first impressions matter. We write your EOI and, if you're invited to apply, your full application, translating your project into the language and evidence MPI needs to say yes.
Support you through to contract
Receiving an invitation to apply is just the beginning. We support you through the full application stage, liaise directly with MPI, and help you get to contract as smoothly as possible.
What you actually get from us
Here's how BlueRock's grants specialists help you access the Primary Sector Growth Fund:
- Free consultation to assess your project against PSGFrequirements.
- Independentadvice on whether PSGF is the right fund for your project, or whether anotherprogramme is a better fit.
- Review of your project concept against MPI's fourassessment criteria.
- Advice on structuring your co-investment contributionto meet MPI's requirements.
- Development of your economic benefits case, includingcost and profit impact analysis.
- Writingand submitting your Expression of Interest.
- Writing your full application if invited by MPI to proceed.
- Direct liaison with MPI throughout the assessment andfeedback process.
- Advice on project planning, budgeting, and riskmanagement to support your application.
- Support through contract negotiation and project set-uponce funding is confirmed.
What sets BlueRock apart?
The PSGF is competitive and the assessmentprocess is rigorous. MPI has been clear that proposals built on high-level oraspirational claims will not succeed.
What makes the difference is awell-structured economic case, a credible project plan, and a submission thatspeaks directly to MPI's criteria. That's where BlueRock adds value.
Tom Moore - Director
Tom leads BlueRock's New Zealand office and heads the Grants and Incentives teams across Australia and New Zealand. He's an expert in R&D tax incentives and funding, with global experience in NZ, Australia and the UK. With degrees in both science and finance, and extensive experience in business advisory, Tom has worked with garage startups, listed tech companies and everything in between.
Corey Laverty - Manager
Corey specialises in research funding, with over 11 years' experience in research management and advisory for leading Australian and European universities and research organisations. As a scientist who's also trained in economics, Corey brings the detailed understanding needed to write technical narratives and project pitches that hold up under scrutiny.
Primary Sector Growth Fund FAQs
The Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) is MPI's flagship co-investment grant programme for New Zealand's food and fibre sectors. Launched in May 2025, it replaced the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund. The government has allocated $246 million over four years to back projects that deliver direct economic benefits across NZ's primary industries.
Most NZ-based businesses, industry bodies, and groups with a project in the food and fibre sector can apply. Your project must be able to demonstrate measurable economic benefits for New Zealand and meet MPI's co-investment requirements. You also need to show your organisation has the financial stability and capability to deliver the project.
MPI contributes up to 40% oftotal project costs, with applicants funding the remaining 60%. In compellingcases, MPI may consider funding up to 50%. The minimum government contributionis $250,000, matched by at least $375,000 in industry co-funding. There is noupper cap, and MPI will consider multi-million-dollar, multi-year programmes.
The PSGF funds projects throughout the food and fibre value chain, including new product development, process innovation, by-product transformation, productivity improvements, and market development. From April 2026, MPI also accepts feasibility project proposals for large or community-scale water storage and reticulation. The fund does not cover core business activity or projects that are entirely export-focused.
MPI assesses all applications against four criteria: net benefits to New Zealand (the project must increase profits or reduce costs in the food and fibre value chain), a clear rationale for Crown funding, a strong project plan with substantiated evidence, and proof of organisational capability to deliver and sustain benefits. Proposals based on high-level or unsubstantiated claims are unlikely to succeed.
The first step is submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to MPI. EOIs can be submitted at any time. MPI uses the EOI to assess whether your project is likely to meet PSGF requirements and may provide early feedback. If your project is a good fit, you'll be invited to submit a full application. The process then moves through assessment, contracting, delivery, and a final report.
It could be, if your project delivers benefits beyond your own business to the wider food and fibre sector. Projects that boost productivity, develop new products, reduce costs across the value chain, or scale proven innovations are well-suited to the PSGF. Some key questions MPI asks are whether your project would proceed without Crown funding, and whether the benefits justify public investment. BlueRock can help you assess those honestly before you commit to an application.
Yes, to a limited extent. MPI prefers cash co-investment but will consider in-kind contributions on a case-by-case basis. Eligible in-kind costs are those that only arise because of the project and are additional to your usual business activities, such as staff time, raw materials you already own, or use of existing equipment and facilities. Past investments in developing your business idea cannot be counted. Other Crown funding cannot be used as co-investment.
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