Zespri wants to buy into illicitly grown sungold kiwifruit 佳沛正在探討收購國內(nèi)種植的陽光金果獼猴桃

Zespri's contentious China deal rejected by regulator over IP leakage and China relationship concernsZespri在中國的爭議交易因知識產(chǎn)權(quán)泄露和中國關(guān)系問題被監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)駁回

▲zespri RubyRed▲

Bringing it all back home - Zespri shares kiwifruit pointers with Chinese growers. This video was first published in 2018.

把一切帶回家-Zespri與中國種植者分享獼猴桃指針。該視頻于2018年首次發(fā)布。

▲Yellow kiwi orchard

Zespri's contentious China deal was rejected by the industry regulator due to concerns intellectual property would "leak" into China, and the company’s relationship with its largest market could be damaged.

Zespri在中國的爭議交易被行業(yè)監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)拒絕，原因是擔(dān)心知識產(chǎn)權(quán)會“泄露”到中國，該公司與其最大市場的關(guān)系可能會受到損害。

▲sungold g3 kiwifruit vine

An independent assessment of the kiwifruit giant's China project – a trial of buying and branding counterfeit SunGold kiwifruit grown in China – also canvassed a “wider geo-political risk”, but further details have been redacted in documents obtained by Stuff.

對這家獼猴桃巨頭的中國項目進(jìn)行的一項獨(dú)立評估——一項購買中國種植的假冒老獼猴桃并為其打上品牌的試驗——也揭示了“更廣泛的地緣政治風(fēng)險”，但本網(wǎng)獲得的文件中對進(jìn)一步的細(xì)節(jié)進(jìn)行了修改。

▲sungold g3 kiwifruit vine

China expert Anne-Marie Brady? says references to geo-political risk show China considers the proposal a political relationship, not a business relationship, risking the banning of exports if offence is caused.

中國專家安妮·瑪麗·布雷迪? 他說，提到地緣政治風(fēng)險表明，中國認(rèn)為這項提議是一種政治關(guān)系，而不是商業(yè)關(guān)系，如果違法行為發(fā)生，可能會被禁止出口。

▲New Zealand zespri Kiwifruit packaging

However, Zespri remains convinced the trial won’t initially compromise its intellectual property (IP), and that its “upfront” approach has gained it support within the country.

然而，Zespri仍然相信，該試驗一開始不會損害其知識產(chǎn)權(quán)（IP），其“先發(fā)制人”的方法在國內(nèi)獲得了支持。

▲New Zealand zespri redKiwifruit packaging

Zespri wants to buy into illicitly grown sungold kiwifruit, a move which would be outside its legal mandate.

Zespri希望收購非法種植的陽光金果獼猴桃，這一舉動將超出其法律授權(quán)范圍。

▲陽光金果獼猴桃果園

Zespri now expects that more than 4000ha of unlicensed SunGold kiwifruit, the equivalent of 10 million trays, is being grown in China on vines that were once stolen from the company – a threat to the company’s sizeable stake in the Chinese market.

Zespri現(xiàn)在預(yù)計，在中國，有超過4000公頃的未經(jīng)許可的SunGold獼猴桃（相當(dāng)于1000萬盤）種植，這對該公司在中國市場的巨大份額構(gòu)成了威脅。

▲zespri goldenkiwifruit

The company hoped to partner with the growers, providing technology and skills to produce and sell some 1.95m trays of SunGold at its high standard, in a three-year trial.

該公司希望與種植者合作，提供技術(shù)和技能，以高標(biāo)準(zhǔn)生產(chǎn)和銷售約195萬盤SunGold，為期三年。

▲zespri yellow kiwi

But, after seeking sign off from industry regulator Kiwifruit New Zealand (KNZ), Zespri in January withdrew its proposal before KNZ could publish its findings and decline approval.

但是，在尋求行業(yè)監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)新西蘭獼猴桃（KNZ）的批準(zhǔn)后，Zespri于1月份在新西蘭獼猴桃公布其調(diào)查結(jié)果并拒絕批準(zhǔn)之前撤回了其提案。

▲Kiwifruit packing box

Documents obtained under the Official Information Act show KNZ and an independent review conducted by Sapere had deemed the proposal “more than low risk” to growers in three ways.

根據(jù)《官方信息法》獲得的文件顯示，KNZ和Sapere進(jìn)行的獨(dú)立審查認(rèn)為該提案在三個方面對種植者“風(fēng)險很低”。

▲獼猴桃牽引

Former New Zealand ambassador to China John McKinnon? advised Sapere that relations with provincial Chinese government could be damaged when exiting the arrangement, an outcome that could be worse than not entering the trial.

新西蘭前駐華大使約翰·麥金農(nóng)? 薩佩雷表示，退出協(xié)議可能會損害與中國省政府的關(guān)系，這可能比不參與審判更糟糕。

▲Kiwi pollination▲

“This worse outcome could occur if expectations were not well managed,” the report said.

報告稱：“如果預(yù)期管理不善，可能會出現(xiàn)更糟糕的結(jié)果?！薄?/p>

Such a risk could be mitigated, however Zespri’s application did not describe how it would manage this “other than a general comment about a stakeholder and communication strategy”.

這樣的風(fēng)險是可以緩解的，但是Zespri的應(yīng)用程序沒有描述它將如何管理這一風(fēng)險，“除了關(guān)于利益相關(guān)者和溝通策略的一般性評論”。

▲Kiwi pollen▲

Some 4000ha of unlicensed SunGold kiwifruit is being grown in China, after the variety was stolen from Zespri. It’s broadly expected the illicit planting of SunGold will only expand.

中國種植了約4000公頃未經(jīng)許可的陽光獼猴桃，此前該品種從Zespri被盜。人們普遍預(yù)計，非法種植桑戈德的活動只會擴(kuò)大。

▲紅心獼猴桃花粉

While details of a “wider geo-political risk” mentioned in Zespri’s application were redacted, the report said the risk of “unpredictable government intervention and other geopolitical risks” would be much greater if the trial became a full-scale operation.

雖然Zespri申請書中提到的“更廣泛的地緣政治風(fēng)險”的細(xì)節(jié)已被修改，但報告稱，如果審判成為全面行動，“不可預(yù)測的政府干預(yù)和其他地緣政治風(fēng)險”，風(fēng)險將大得多。

▲黃心獼猴桃花粉

Brady, a professor at University of Canterbury, told Stuff: "What they're saying is that China is treating this all politically rather than as a business relationship ... so that's problematic.”

坎特伯雷大學(xué)（University of Canterbury）教授布雷迪（Brady）告訴《Stuff》：“他們的意思是，中國把這一切都視為政治關(guān)系，而不是商業(yè)關(guān)系……所以這是有問題的?！?/p>

▲zespri rubyred kiwifruit

"What they mean is the political risk of China banning New Zealand exports for some reason, that [Zespri] might be affected by it, but that ... their own decision to protect their interests could cause offence and make things worse for them and New Zealand.”

“他們的意思是，中國出于某種原因禁止新西蘭出口的政治風(fēng)險，〔Zespri〕可能會受到影響，但……他們自己保護(hù)自己利益的決定可能會引起冒犯，并使他們和新西蘭的情況變得更糟。”

▲zespri yellow kiwi

McKinnon also advised that IP leakage was a “medium to high” likelihood, and “a very common feature of direct investments in China”.

麥金農(nóng)還表示，知識產(chǎn)權(quán)泄漏的可能性為“中到高”，是“在華直接投資的一個非常普遍的特征”。

▲Rubyred kiwi orchard

Former ambassador to China John McKinnon provided advise to an independent review of Zespri’s China proposal.

前駐華大使約翰·麥金農(nóng)（John McKinnon）為Zespri的中國提案的獨(dú)立審查提供了建議。

▲zespri yellow kiwi

“The level of leakage would likely be initially low. However, by the end of the trial period the risk of a level of leakage [would be] materially higher than if the trial were not conducted,” Sapere wrote.

薩佩雷寫道：“最初泄漏水平可能很低。然而，到試驗期結(jié)束時，泄漏水平的風(fēng)險[將]大大高于不進(jìn)行試驗的情況?！薄?/p>

▲zespri sungold g3 kiwi

KNZ agreed with Sapere’s risk assessment, and said there was also a “more than low risk” to the reputation of New Zealand growers.

In a draft decision, KNZ said it “strongly” disagreed with Zespri that any food safety failures would not damage the reputation of New Zealand growers, as such “failures would be clearly linked to Chinese-grown fruit”.

“Not only is that an unrealistic assumption in terms of market perception, but KNZ believes that quality and especially food safety failures would directly affect the Zespri brand.”

▲東紅獼猴桃

KNZ同意薩佩雷的風(fēng)險評估，并表示新西蘭種植者的聲譽(yù)也存在“較低的風(fēng)險”。

KNZ在一份決定草案中表示，它“強(qiáng)烈”不同意Zespri的觀點(diǎn)，即任何食品安全問題都不會損害新西蘭種植者的聲譽(yù)，因為“這些問題顯然與中國種植的水果有關(guān)”。

“這不僅是一個不切實際的市場認(rèn)知假設(shè)，而且KNZ認(rèn)為質(zhì)量，尤其是食品安全問題，將直接影響Zespri品牌?！?/p>

▲佳沛陽光金果金奇異果

Zespri, in its application, had assessed the risks to the trial as low. It said IP leakage would be low due to it signing confidentiality contracts with selected Chinese growers.

Professor Anne-Marie Brady says there is little regard for IP in China.

Brady said the legal system in China was politicised and foreign investors had difficulty protecting their rights.

Zespri在其應(yīng)用中評估了試驗的風(fēng)險很低。該公司表示，由于與選定的中國種植者簽訂了保密合同，IP泄漏率將很低。

安妮·瑪麗·布雷迪教授說，中國很少重視知識產(chǎn)權(quán)。

布雷迪表示，中國的法律制度被政治化，外國投資者很難保護(hù)自己的權(quán)利。

▲陽光金果G3獼猴桃

"There are so many factors that will be outside their control. A formal agreement in China is not the same as a formal agreement in New Zealand, and if something does go wrong, the odds are stacked against you."

Zespri's chief grower and industry officer, Carol Ward?, said in a statement to Stuff that Zespri would not be sharing IP during the first year of the trial, instead monitoring selected orchards.

“We’ve also been very clear about the parameters of the trial ... That’s included being upfront about what it would take for the trial to succeed, including ... mitigating the spread of unauthorised plantings and being able to better protect our IP.

▲sungold g3 kiwifruit vine

“他們無法控制的因素太多了。在中國的正式協(xié)議與在新西蘭的正式協(xié)議不同，如果確實出了什么問題，你就很難獲得成功?！?/p>

Zespri的首席種植者兼行業(yè)官卡羅爾·沃德?, 在一份聲明中說，Zespri在試驗的第一年不會共享IP，而是監(jiān)控選定的果園。

“我們對試驗的參數(shù)也非常清楚……這包括預(yù)先了解試驗成功所需的條件，包括……減少未經(jīng)授權(quán)種植的蔓延，并能夠更好地保護(hù)我們的知識產(chǎn)權(quán)。

▲redkiwi growing zone

“We have also been well-supported in China, and local Chinese stakeholders have appreciated the pragmatic and constructive approach we have taken.”

Ward did not answer a question about whether Zespri accepted KNZ’s findings of “more than low” risk.

Sapere Research Group report into Zespri proposal by Stuff Newsroom on Scribd

The company would take the proposal to a vote of the industry’s growers in the middle of the year, in the hope of getting sign-off for the trial in time for the China sales season, starting in October.

▲佳沛黃心獼猴桃

“我們在中國也得到了很好的支持，中國當(dāng)?shù)乩嫦嚓P(guān)者贊賞我們采取的務(wù)實和建設(shè)性的做法?！?/p>

沃德沒有回答Zespri是否接受KNZ的“超低”風(fēng)險調(diào)查結(jié)果的問題。

Sapere研究小組在Scribd上對Stuff Newsroom提出的Zespri提案進(jìn)行了報告

該公司將在年中將該提案提交給該行業(yè)的種植者投票，以期在10月開始的中國銷售季前及時簽署試用協(xié)議。

▲陽光金果G3獼猴桃

As Zespri has a state-sanctioned monopoly on marketing and export of New Zealand-grown kiwifruit, under law it needs sign-off from KNZ or a majority of kiwifruit growers to conduct business activities outside of New Zealand.

A contentious proposal
In late 2020 Zespri inked a “memorandum of intent” with a Sichuan-based state-owned enterprise to signal it would enter a commercial arrangement with growers of unlicensed SunGold in China.

▲Kiwifruit orchard

The company aimed to provide its “world-leading” orchard, harvest and quality control techniques and technology that would lift the quality of the Chinese fruit, to sell under the Zespri brand.

Zespri has called it a “win-win” arrangement that was hoped to encourage a supportive Chinese government into enforcing the plant variety rights, or IP, over SunGold fruit, curbing the growth of counterfeit fruit.

▲Golden kiwifruit

由于Zespri在新西蘭種植的獼猴桃的營銷和出口方面擁有國家批準(zhǔn)的壟斷權(quán)，根據(jù)法律，它需要新西蘭克朗茲公司或大多數(shù)獼猴桃種植者的批準(zhǔn)，才能在新西蘭境外開展業(yè)務(wù)活動。

有爭議的提議

2020年末，Zespri與一家四川國有企業(yè)簽署了一份“意向備忘錄”，表示將與中國無照SunGold種植者達(dá)成商業(yè)協(xié)議。

該公司旨在提供其“世界領(lǐng)先”的果園、收獲和質(zhì)量控制技術(shù)，以提高中國水果的質(zhì)量，并以Zespri品牌銷售。

Zespri稱之為“雙贏”安排，希望鼓勵支持性的中國政府對SunGold水果實施植物品種權(quán)，或知識產(chǎn)權(quán)，以遏制假冒水果的增長。

▲zespri kiwifruit Import and export

With China’s growing season on the horizon and the volume of counterfeit fruit expected to grow, there was pressure to ink a deal – and pressure was being applied to KNZ to sign off on the proposal.

Stuff last week revealed Zespri chairman Bruce Cameron had allegedly tried to “browbeat” and intimidate industry KNZ into "rubber-stamping" the proposal.

Letter from KNZ chairwoman to Zespri chairman Bruce Cameron by Stuff Newsroom on Scribd

KNZ chairwoman Kristy McDonald??, QC, in a November letter obtained under the Official Information Act, alleged Cameron had personally threatened her amid “a series of threats, demands and accusations” in a Friday evening phone call.

Cameron totally rejected the characterisation of the phone call.

隨著中國的種植季節(jié)即將到來，假冒水果的數(shù)量預(yù)計將增加，簽訂協(xié)議的壓力也越來越大，KNZ也面臨簽署該提案的壓力。

上周公布的消息顯示，Zespri主席布魯斯·卡梅隆（Bruce Cameron）據(jù)稱試圖“威嚇”和恐嚇KNZ行業(yè)，使其對該提案“打橡皮圖章”。

▲RubyRedkiwifruit

KNZ主席致Zespri主席布魯斯·卡梅隆的信，由Scribd上的Stuff Newsroom撰寫

KNZ主席克里斯蒂·麥克唐納??, QC在11月根據(jù)《官方信息法》獲得的一封信中，指控卡梅倫在周五晚上的一個電話中“一系列威脅、要求和指控”親自威脅她。

卡梅倫完全否認(rèn)了這通電話的特征。

▲Golden Kiwi seedlings▲

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said there was always going to be tension between KNZ and Zespri, which was a “hard-nosed commercial operator".

▲Golden kiwifruit▲

農(nóng)業(yè)部長達(dá)米恩·奧康納說，KNZ和澤斯普里之間總是會有緊張關(guān)系，澤斯普林是一個“精明的商業(yè)運(yùn)營商”。

“這會發(fā)生的，所有行業(yè)的人們都會做這些事情，試圖讓他們的案例得到提出。我對此并不感到驚訝?！?/p>

▲RubyRedkiwifruit