Controversy around methane review heats up

Thursday - The government’s proposal to align methane targets with ‘no additional warming’ is self-serving, unfair to developing nations, and could ultimately harm New Zealand’s reputation and free trade agreements, according to a new report.

Exports risk multi-billion dollar hit if GMO rules deregulated

26 Nov 24 - New Zealand’s primary sector exports could drop by $10 billion to $20 billion a year if the government goes ahead with plans to change genetic modification rules, according to a new report.

Govt passes bill to keep farming emissions out of ETS

25 Nov 24 - The government quietly passed a bill to remove agricultural emissions from New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme on Friday, making no official statement announcing the law change.

Govt accused of kicking can down the road on ag emissions

12 Nov 24 - The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme Agricultural Obligations) Amendment Bill completed its second reading in Parliament with Opposition parties saying it was a step backwards.

Seaweed can reduce emissions from cattle by 95% - new study

24 Oct 24 - A new study has found that using whole Asparagopsis seaweed as a cattle feed additive is significantly more effective at reducing methane emissions than using the plant’s primary active compound on its own.

Farmers need to get creative to reduce environmental impacts: Young Farmer finalist

4 Oct 24 - By Jon Rawlinson | A three-time winner of the Northern FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition is building a business around helping future farmers prepare for environmental challenges.

Nestlé questions NZ dairy farmers’ carbon claims

22 Aug 24 - By Liz Kivi | Nestlé’s chief dairy buyer has challenged claims that New Zealand’s dairy farms have the lowest global carbon footprint.

UN-backed organisation approves Fonterra’s climate targets

19 Aug 24 - By Jon Rawlinson | The world’s top corporate climate-target verifier, the London-based Science Based Targets initiative, has approved Fonterra’s emissions reductions targets.

European organisation accuses Fonterra of derailing climate action

19 Jul 24 - A European organisation has accused big dairy and meat companies, including New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, of “distracting, delaying and derailing” action on climate change.

What does Denmark’s carbon tax mean for NZ?

17 Jul 24 - By Nick Swallow | COMMENT: A few weeks back Denmark announced a proposal to introduce a tax on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Govt’s regulatory breather doesn’t change pressure on farm emissions

9 Jul 24 - As the Government moves away from pricing farm emissions and looks to reduce methane targets, farmers are coming under increasing pressure from their customers to reduce all emissions.

More carrot, less stick for ag sector emissions reductions?

1 Jul 24 - The Bank of New Zealand is the latest big business to become a shareholder of a public-private joint venture to reduce emissions from agriculture.

Climate announcements coming to Fieldays?

11 Jun 24 - Farmers and the wider agricultural sector gathering at Fieldays this week make the event a likely venue for rolling out environment and climate change policy.

Additional $18 million to reduce agricultural emissions

10 Apr 24 - The government and businesses are committing an additional $18 million to a public-private joint venture to reduce agricultural emissions.

Govt review of methane targets controversial with experts

8 Apr 24 - The government’s plan for an independent review of agricultural methane targets consistent with no additional warming represents “dangerous thinking” according to an expert.

Fonterra launches new carbon tool

6 Mar 24 - In a move it says is an industry first, Fonterra has launched a tool to help customers access the emissions profile of individual products.

Agri-focused board game for NCEA students

20 Dec 23 - A new board game for NCEA students is aimed at attracting young farmers to the industry.

Fonterra announces 30% on-farm emissions reduction target

10 Nov 23 - Fonterra has announced it is targeting a 30% intensity reduction in on-farm emissions by 2030 from a 2018 baseline.

$10 million “sheep of the future” could emit less methane

21 Sep 23 - The government is putting $10.5 million towards breeding the “sheep of the future,” which will create fewer methane emissions as well as coping with hotter temperatures as summers heat up.

More in the Agriculture Archive