Productivity
by Peter Naylor
As discussed previously there have been major changes in a lot of industry and trades. One of the key reasons that NZ is so successful is that we have developed a lot of technology that we either manufacture and sell overseas or have patents for. The beauty of being a relatively small nation with a wide range of environments is that we can develop things that can be tested across these environments easily.
An example of this is the automation of road maintenance. We have developed machinery that detects potholes and maps the repair, using a CNC Router to cut out the repair area, then drop in the base, compact it, and then apply the topcoats getting a perfect match at the edges, so that there is no ridges left that cause bouncing and the recurrence of the damage.
Being a major agricultural producer, we embraced drone technology for pest control. Weeds are zapped with lasers, and insects and diseases are controlled with natural controls, meaning that we have been able to dramatically increase the number of organic products we produce. Organic products are similarly priced locally to traditional crops, meaning that the population has easy access to them, and this has resulted in better health, reducing health costs but more importantly, providing a better quality of life. The export market has been great, where we still get premium prices as other countries have struggled to build their organic capability.
Growing food close to where it is consumed has meant lower transport costs. In the big cities this has been achieved using vertical farming in relatively sterile environments. While this is common overseas, where we lead the world is making sure that the food isn’t too sterile. Our medical research recognises the importance of getting the correct gut biome, this means that beneficial bacteria need to be available in our fresh food. Our vertical farms are also organic. Hydroponics use natural fertilisers.
We also realised that there is going to be a lot more people living in space villages, towns, and cities in the future so as we were developing our vertical farms, we were very cognisant of this emerging trend and provided the technology and skill set to grow organically in space.
Similarly in the agricultural sector, we have become leaders in meat and dairy production, producing high-quality products that fetch premium prices. We lead the world in grass research and other technologies that have greatly decreased the levels of methane created by farming.
In Forestry we invented portable factories to deal with the slash and other byproducts from timber production. This has resulted in a much lower risk of flooding in extreme weather events as well as keeping our shoreline clean. With timber, our export industry has moved on from just exporting logs to exporting value-added solutions. As a result of education promoting creativity and ingenuity as key skills, we now have a whole generation of people who have created new ideas.
An example of this is creating bespoke kitset homes, with architectural elements, that are exported overseas in custom-built ships. These homes are created in automated factories specifically designed to build one-off products. We don’t try and compete in the mass-produced market of the larger countries.
We have taken the learnings from our sailing heritage to build ships with very low crew numbers, driven by wind power to deliver our products to the Asia Pacific region at very low cost.
The advances we have made in health treatments have also provided a source of export income.
To develop a lot of the ideas above, finance was provided by Government or Tertiary training facilities. As a condition for this companies provide shares to the government. As businesses succeed, they have the option of buying the government out or paying the government dividends. Either way with a high level of success for the new enterprises, the government has been earning enough to create roles in “Nature Management” and top up Guaranteed Minimum Incomes for other social contributions.
a) Sally, Mark, Emma, Lisa, John, David and Sarah
In 2050, New Zealand has become a global leader in road maintenance automation. Sally, an engineer specializing in infrastructure technology, has been instrumental in developing a cutting-edge machine that could detect potholes and efficiently repair them. Her invention ensures a smoother and safer driving experience for all New Zealanders, reducing the need for costly road repairs and minimizing accidents caused by road damage.
As a major agricultural producer, New Zealand has embraced drone technology for pest control. Mark, a farmer, uses drones equipped with lasers to eliminate weeds in his fields and employs natural controls for insects and diseases. There are sensors in the crops that detect the presence of pests and diseases, meaning that with early detection, they can be treated before they get a chance to populate. Irrigation is also managed using extensive sensors making sure that water isn’t wasted by being delivered to plants don’t need them. The shift towards organic farming has not only increased the production of organic products but also improved overall public health. Access to affordable organic food has become the norm, leading to a healthier population and reduced healthcare costs.
New Zealand has revolutionized urban agriculture by adopting vertical farming techniques. Emma, a city dweller, lives in an area with thriving vertical farms that provide fresh, locally grown produce. What set New Zealand apart was its commitment to maintaining the natural balance of beneficial bacteria in fresh food, ensuring that the food was not overly sterilized. This approach had significant health benefits and positioned New Zealand as a leader in space agriculture technology. Emma finds that having so much fresh food readily available all year around she can enjoy a large variety of really healthy eating choices.
In the agricultural sector, New Zealand has become a global leader in meat and dairy production. Lisa, a farmer, proudly raised livestock using cutting-edge techniques that reduced methane emissions. The country's commitment to sustainable farming practices has led to high-quality products that commanded premium prices in international markets, contributing to a thriving agricultural industry. Lisa also uses technology to help in the management of her livestock. All the animals have sensors to detect if they are having any welfare issues. The grass and crops she uses for feed are all grown organically and have been designed to ensure that the livestock minimise their methane emissions.
New Zealand has also made significant advancements in forestry. John, an environmentalist, appreciated the portable factories used to process timber byproducts, reducing the risk of flooding from harvesting waste and keeping shorelines clean. The country had shifted from exporting raw logs to exporting value-added timber products, thanks to a generation of creative and innovative thinkers. One of the uses of the slash is to have mini power plants that burnt the slash to produce electricity that is used to recharge the equipment that is used for harvesting. There was much debate about the burning of the slash as this released CO2 into the atmosphere, however the sums were done and the advantage of having local electricity to power electric powered equipment outweighed having to use diesel and petrol powered equipment.
Kiwi entrepreneurs had tapped into their creativity to design bespoke kitset homes with unique architectural elements. David, a designer, worked in an automated factory dedicated to producing one-of-a-kind homes. These homes were exported worldwide in custom-built ships, using low-crew, wind-powered vessels inspired by New Zealand's sailing heritage.
To drive innovation, the government has provided funding to businesses and tertiary training facilities. This financial support comes with the condition: companies offer shares to the government. Sarah, the engineer from Story 1, was part of a company that had benefited from this scheme. As businesses succeeded, they had the option to buy the government's shares or pay dividends. The government's earnings from these ventures are reinvested into "Nature Management" roles and supplemented Guaranteed Minimum Incomes, fostering social contributions and prosperity for all.