We are a New Zealand based horticultural consultancy company that specialises in crop damage investigation, assessment, loss quantification, mitigation and expert witnessing.

Horticulture can be an exciting and rewarding industry; unfortunately there are some risks. Successful businesses are proactive in minimising risks, and efficient in dealing with problems. Croplink provides services designed to prevent or avoid crop failure in the first instance, but provide clients with quality assistance when failure has occurred and particularly where litigation is unavoidable.

We have built up a network of other professionals, such as scientists, loss adjusters, solicitors and barristers who have experience in various fields relating to horticultural crop failure. With fluency in Dutch and English, we derive information from the latest international research. The services we provide in conjunction with these people include:

CROP DAMAGE INVESTIGATION AND QUANTIFICATION
We have extensive experience in determining the causes of crop damage; whether this is due to chemical damage, weather conditions, nutritional imbalance or other factors. Once the cause is established, we can assist in establishing the quantum of loss in the current season and for future seasons if the loss is considered to be ongoing.  If the crop can be partly or wholly salvaged, we can assist with designing realistic solutions to assist with this. Where losses have occurred, we can provide advice on how best to mitigate the losses.

DISPUTE NEGOTIATION
When a dispute does occur, in many cases resolution can be obtained quickly and more cost effectively by negotiation. Having an independent person establish the facts and determine any losses can take the heat out of an argument and avoid costly litigation.

LITIGATION SUPPORT
If litigation is unavoidable, then it is important that thoroughly researched expert witnessing and the most accurate and reliable information are available to support your legal team.

LIQUIDATION

Should you or your client be faced with liquidation or receivership, we can help facilitate the process by providing:

• Crop Estimation in the Field or in Storage
• Crop Damage Assessment and Quantification
• Expert Witnessing for Litigation
• Market Assessments for Sale of a Business or Parts of a Business
• Assessment of Quality of Leased or Owned Properties.

We have been involved in several difficult receiverships and liquidations over the years, which give an insight into various strategies that can be employed for maximising asset returns while minimising costs and risks, to minimise financial losses.

For more information on this important subject, please read our Crop Damage article, which was published in condensed versions in early 2009 in "The Orchardist", "Grower" and "Commercial Horticulture" magazines.

For a resume of Andrew Steens, Managing Director of CropLink Consulting Ltd, go here; Curriculum Vitae