Taking place at the stunning Te Pae Convention Centre in Christchurch, Seed Business 2025 was the first time Seed & Grain New Zealand and the Australian Seed Federation joined forces in a singular conference. The Smart Pack team was there to show our work and stay up to speed with the seed industry.
With field tours, exhibition space, and a gala dinner, the networking and knowledge sharing was second to none. Our team enjoyed every minute of the important event.
“The seed business is hugely important to Smart Pack, and this conference gave us the perfect opportunity to share our packaging innovation,” says Smart Pack Managing Director Leon Currie. “The latest in paper bag technology and block bottom BOPP bags can offer some big advantages to this industry in particular.”
It was helpful too for Smart Pack to remind local audiences that quality packaging service goes beyond the bag.
“We have distribution centres in both Christchurch and Ashburton, and can move rapidly to deliver what they need, when they need it,” says Leon. “Locally printed bags can have a 10-day turnaround time. That’s hugely helpful when these businesses need to making changes or updates quickly and confidently.”
Catching up with customers both at our booth and out on the morning field tours (where we served coffee to attendees), the growing optimism within agriculture and forestry sectors was good to see.
“The general mood was positive, despite 2025 being a tough growing year,” says Smart Pack BDM Garth Hill. “Overall, the global demand for good grass seed is strong – we just need a strong 2026 growing season now.”
After the event Sarah Clark, Chief Executive of Seed & Grain New Zealand, got in touch, noting that the “team’s energy and participation helped create a vibrant and engaging environment”.
Our ‘Guess the Seeds’ competition certainly engaged the crowd, with plenty of speculation at the dinner over who would take the prize. The winner of the RM Williams boots was Sharon Dawe. For the record, there were 22,098 seeds in the jar. Congratulations on getting closest Sharon!
