Farm scientists at a new multi-million-dollar research facility believe they can cut the carbon footprint of milk by 20 per cent – even without using the latest emerging technologies.
Federated Farmers has told a parliamentary committee the emissions trading scheme (ETS) should be scrapped because it would create economic disaster.
But dairy giant Fonterra says it should be kept, but only if changed significantly.
The Prime Minister, in a public dialogue with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, yesterday told an Australasian climate change and business conference in Auckland that New Zealand could not risk being seen as a “dirty producer”.
New Zealand also risked having overseas consumers shun its products unless the country rose to the challenge of reducing its agricultural carbon emissions.
Stretching from southern Queensland to the South Australian coast, the area covers one-seventh of Australia. It includes some of the country’s best grazing and cropping land, and its $9 billion agricultural industry grows an important proportion of the nation’s food.
But the river systems are in crisis, threatening the environmental health of the region and in turn those industries that rely on a flourishing river system.
The cool oceans around New Zealand will limit the impact of global warming, pipfruit growers heard at a conference yesterday.
Climate Watch