Last week a sample taken from packaging on New Zealand tripe tested positive for COVID-19 genetic material.
Horticulture lending, led by the kiwifruit industry, is growing at an annual rate of 15 percent.
The recently formed New Zealand Rural Land Company is planning to list on the NZX stock market later next month with an initial public offer of shares.
A Hawke's Bay entrepreneur fears a new food innovation hub will keep small players out of the market.
Ardern spoke at this year's Primary Industries Summit in Wellington.
COVID-19 is continuing to impact the global food service industry.
The company predicts the move will lead to 10 million litres of milk consumed by Kiwis in 2021 being carbon-free.
The decentralised platform will share verified data proving provenance, authentication, and food safety as well as biosecurity tracking and tracing.
One-off costs including retrospective payments to workers have pulled the meat processor Alliance's profit before tax down to $7.5 million.
