IFPA A-NZ Briefing: Fresh Produce & Geopolitical Tensions

April 1, 2026

An industry-first briefing connecting global developments in the Middle East with potential implications for the fresh produce sector has provided businesses with tools and insights to prepare and respond to ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

The International Fresh Produce Association Australia–New Zealand (IFPA A-NZ) on 1 April led a critical conversation with crisis and geopolitical-risk expert Duncan Hains, who has experience across risk and crisis management, strategic planning and military operations.

With increasing instability around critical global shipping routes, members had indicated they are highly concerned about both the short and longer term impacts on their business.

Mr Hains, Managing Director of RCA Crisis Management, worked through scenarios covering disruptions to fuel supply chains, maritime logistics, and the impact on raw supplies essential for the food security. Businesses were urged to work collaboratively through topics including:
• Investment in supply chain resilience
• Cross sector working groups
• Behaviour and expectation management
• Opportunities to reduce regulation, bureaucracy and administration inefficiencies
• Potential impacts from future conflicts with higher intensity, longer duration and broader impacts

Mr Hains provided members with crisis response strategies to navigate the changing the environment and methods to support a formalised approach to strategic planning.

“Time lost in a crisis cannot be recovered,” he said. “It is better to plan in detail and adjust as needed than to wait for certainty that may never come.”

Managing Director Belinda Wilson said IFPA A-NZ would maintain close engagement with government, industry stakeholders and global partners to ensure members are informed and equipped to respond as the situation develops.

“This is a rapidly evolving situation with wide-reaching implications. Our role is to translate complex geopolitical developments into practical, actionable insights so our members can plan, prepare and respond,” she said.

“Our industry has successfully navigated COVID-19, extreme weather events and ongoing supply chain challenges. There is much that cannot be controlled, but our sector defined by its ability to adapt.”

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