Innovations are emerging to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and ensure sufficient food supply.
Scientists at the AgResearch have developed ‘acoustic urine sensors’ to tackle the problem of nitrogen loss from the urine of cattle which affects water quality and leads to emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.
Scientists have broadly welcomed Fonterra’s roadmap to reduce its scope 3 emissions but have questioned the use of intensity targets rather than absolute goals.
Greenpeace Aotearoa says Fonterra’a proposed climate roadmap is little more than “polishing a turd” because it contains no real measures to reduce emissions.
The dairy co-op plans to cut its scope 3 emissions by adopting an intensity reduction goal rather than a hard target for cutting overall on-farm greenhouse gases.
Emissions from primary industries – agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining – fell 0.1% or 9 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents in the June 2023 quarter, compared to the preceding March quarter, according to Stats NZ.
Pāmu has voluntarily released its first climate-related disclosure report as the state-owned farming company becomes more mindful of climate risks, particularly after Cyclone Gabrielle.
Privately owned pet food and confectionery company Mars has issued a fresh set of net-zero pledges, including a new 2030 target.
CEO Doug Paulin says the company has already reduced its total emissions by nearly a quarter.
The government has today announced its final plan to reduce agricultural emissions and future-proof NZ’s largest export sector, according to Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.
The government has pledged $90m from its GIDI fund to help Fonterra accelerate the exit of coal from its operations.
The government is co-investing $17.7m into the construction of a new greenhouse gas testing facility at Massey University.
The National Party has proposed pushing back the deadline by which farmers have to start paying for agricultural emissions, along with a number of other changes.
Industry needs to ramp up the use of renewable energy technology to meet the net-zero goal by 2050.
Fonterra says it will install a heat pump and solar thermal system at two of its sites, as part of its ongoing decarbonisation efforts.
Food system stakeholders continue to benefit from the government’s efforts to stop the burning of fossil fuels, this time to the tune of $9.8m.
Seasonally adjusted greenhouse gas emissions fell by 696 kilotonnes in the September 2022 quarter, which equated to a 3.5% reduction compared to the same period a year earlier.
The government is investing more than $9m over six years to develop a national agricultural greenhouse gas capability plan, and bring more researchers into the field.
Ofi, formerly known as olam food ingredients, is starting a trial of a new animal feed for New Zealand dairy farmers that it says has the potential to help reduce both methane emissions and input costs on farm.
The Centre for Climate Action on Agricultural Emissions has been officially launched by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, alongside the primary sector partners at Fieldays.
The association representing the red meat processing and exporting sector has called for changes to the government’s agricultural emissions pricing proposal.
The proposal would see NZ farmers lead the world in reducing emissions and enhance our export brand, says PM Jacinda Ardern.
Federated Farmers has lambasted the government’s proposed agricultural emissions pricing plan, claiming it will “wipe out” parts of the food production sector.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing accounted for 61% of total industry CO2-e emissions in 2021
Bidfood, Halls, PBT Transport and Toll New Zealand are among a group of companies taking part in Christchurch City Council emission-reduction projects using FUSO eCanter fully electric trucks.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing greenhouse gas emissions fell by 86 kilotonnes, or 0.2%, to 43,875 kilotonnes for the year to December 2021, compared with the previous 12 months, according to data from Stats NZ.
Industrial businesses can now apply for support from the expanded Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) Fund.
The government says He Waka Eke Noa – Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership’s proposals on tackling greenhouse gas emissions are a welcome contribution to the debate.
The partnership says its proposal will help farmers and growers transition to lower-emissions food production while maintaining viable businesses.
New Zealand’s primary sector contributed the most to the country’s total emissions in 2020, coming in at 55%, but it added the smallest amount to GDP at 6.5%, according to data from Stats NZ.
The govt wants to accelerate the decarbonisation of freight and encourage the use of more electric trucks.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw has unveiled New Zealand’s first three emissions budgets, calling them “another milestone on the journey toward a zero-carbon future”.
Reducing the use of fuel for manufacturing helped cut New Zealand’s emissions, according to the Greenhouse Gas Inventory report from the Ministry for the Environment.
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes it clear that a plan to cut emissions is needed now, according to Minister of Climate Change James Shaw.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is urging the government to put limits on the ability of fossil fuel companies to plant trees on productive farmland.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand lays out its alternatives to the government’s emissions trading scheme.
Synlait Milk has reset its 2018 inaugural emissions reduction targets.
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