Topics tagged with 'Agriculture'

Indonesia food plan risks 'world's largest' deforestation
24 Apr 2025
Keen to end its reliance on rice imports, Indonesia wants to plant vast tracts of the crop, along with sugar cane for biofuel, in the restive eastern region.

Moribund carbon price underlines Emissions Trading Scheme’s low integrity
22 Apr 2025
By Liz Kivi | Experts are blaming declining carbon prices on weak policy settings and the government’s unwillingness to tackle continuing problems with the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Environment Court rules Mackenzie biodiversity deserves bespoke protection
17 Apr 2025
Media release | In a decision years in the making, the Environment Court has upheld EDS’s contention that Te Manahuna / the Mackenzie Basin’s significant ecology and indigenous biodiversity warrants a bespoke planning regime to protect it from farming intensification.

Trump administration cancels $3-billion climate friendly farming program
17 Apr 2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday said it had cancelled a $3 billion program for climate-smart farming projects after a review found it did not align with the priorities of the Trump administration.

NZ's emissions fell 2% in 2023 - latest GHG inventory
15 Apr 2025
Aotearoa New Zealand’s gross greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 2% in 2023, according to the latest greenhouse gas inventory.

Environmental summit to tackle costs of economic reform
14 Apr 2025
As the government pushes ahead with sweeping reforms to unlock economic growth, the upcoming Environmental Defence Society annual summit will ask a critical question: at what cost?

New Zealand’s glacier volume down 42% since 2005
14 Apr 2025
Media release | Total glacier ice volumes in Aotearoa New Zealand decreased by 42 percent between 2005 and 2023, according to figures released by Stats NZ.

Meat industry behind attacks on flagship climate-friendly diet report
14 Apr 2025
New evidence suggests the surge of outrage against the report was stoked by a PR firm that represents the meat and dairy sector.

Emissions down but reductions have slowed
10 Apr 2025
While New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped 11% in the past five years, reductions have slowed down, with only a 1% drop from 2023 to 2024.

Experts slam govt decision to wind down green investment bank
9 Apr 2025
The government’s move to scrap its green investment bank is a step backwards for emissions reductions and doesn’t stack up with the National Party’s economic and energy transition strategies, according to sustainable finance experts.

'Sobering' state of NZ environment
8 Apr 2025
Mounting environmental pressures across the country could cause serious consequences for people’s health, housing, livelihoods, and overall quality of life, a new report reveals.

Are carrots threatened by climate change?
8 Apr 2025
Media release | The humble carrot is a staple in many diets worldwide, but it may soon be under threat as the effects of climate change intensify, impacting seed production and global food security.

Biofuels key to food security and shipping resilience for NZ
7 Apr 2025
By Shannon Williams | Aotearoa New Zealand's reliance on imported fossil fuels poses significant risks for food security and shipping resilience in the face of global catastrophes, according to experts speaking at a recent webinar on biofuel self-sufficiency.

Gene Tech Bill risks farmers’ livelihoods, trade, and NZ’s global reputation: OANZ
7 Apr 2025
Media release | Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) has told Parliament that the proposed Gene Technology Bill will have devastating impacts on the organic sector.

Media round-up
4 Apr 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Europe is heading towards an emissions tax on dairy imports; Auckland Transport stops measuring emissions cuts; and Stuff asks if the Paris Agreement is over.

The case against a carbon credit farm in Madagascar
1 Apr 2025
The Italian multinational Tozzi Green has begun planting trees on land that local residents claim was stolen from them.

New bill to block climate litigation ‘constitutional overreach’ - lawyers
27 Mar 2025
Climate and environmental advocates have slammed a National MP’s bill that would block people suing companies for climate damage.

Farmers are reeling from Trump’s attacks on agricultural research
27 Mar 2025
A "rollercoaster" of funding cuts and layoffs have gutted critical agricultural research projects across the nation.

Floodplain grazing phase-out on cards
25 Mar 2025
By Emily Ireland, Local Democracy Reporter| Grazing on 576 hectares of regional-council owned flood protection land in Wairarapa could be heavily reduced in favour of emissions-friendly activities.

‘One-third’ of 2012 soya crop failure in the Americas was due to climate change
25 Mar 2025
Climate change was responsible for just over one-third of the simultaneous soya bean crop failures across Argentina, Brazil and the US in 2012, according to a new attribution study.

Greens call for agriculture in, forestry out of ETS
20 Mar 2025
Yesterday's failed Emission's Trading Scheme auction is 'another indictment' on the government's climate credibility, says Green Party co-leader and climate change spokesperson Chloe Swarbrick.

Fonterra linked to illegal deforestation, claims Greenpeace
5 Mar 2025
Dairy giant Fonterra's supply chain is linked with illegal deforestation, according to Greenpeace Aotearoa, after New Zealand's major importers of palm kernel have been found to be illegally operating palm plantations in Indonesia.

Watts tells farmers billion dollar cost of climate commitments is 'misinformation'
27 Feb 2025
Greenpeace has slammed climate change minister Simon Watts for saying that New Zealand does not have to meet climate targets under the Paris climate agreement.

Fonterra announces more cash for low-emission farmers
19 Feb 2025
Dairy co-operative Fonterra is introducing higher payments for farms that reduce on-farm emissions.

Pesticides worsen biodiversity crisis
14 Feb 2025
New Zealand needs to urgently move to alternative practices to reduce pesticide impacts on biodiversity and change the country's "completely outdated" regulatory framework, experts say.

Swedish company gets $4 million to help curb NZ livestock emissions
13 Feb 2025
Industry-government partnership AgriZeroNZ is investing about NZD $4.2 million in Agteria Biotech, a Swedish company aiming to slash global methane emissions from cattle.

Media round-up
31 Jan 2025
In our weekly round-up of climate coverage in local media: Fonterra gets caught up in misinformation around use of feed additive Bovaer and two Wellington communities want to become the first carbon-neutral suburbs in the world.

NZ banks coy about Net Zero Banking Alliance, reject Fed Farmers 'cartel' claims
29 Jan 2025
By Shannon Williams | New Zealand banks won't say whether they will follow several overseas banks in quitting the Net Zero Banking Alliance.

NZ’s dairy industry faces an uncertain future – its fate now lies in its ability to adapt
20 Dec 2024
New Zealand’s dairy sector faces an uncertain future due to several challenges, including water pollution, high emissions, animal welfare concerns and market volatility.

Waitangi Tribunal kicks off inquiry into climate change policy
20 Dec 2024
By Liz Kivi | The Crown has contributed to worsening the climate crisis as well as exacerbating impacts on Māori communities, a Waitangi Tribunal panel heard this week.

The night shift
20 Dec 2024
With extreme heat making it perilous to work during the day, farmers and fisherfolk worldwide are adopting overnight hours. That comes with new dangers.

Govt delivers standardised emissions measurement tool
16 Dec 2024
Media release| The Government is delivering on its Q4 commitment, restoring certainty and credibility to the agriculture sector by introducing a standardised, science-based method for measuring farm-level greenhouse gas emissions, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, has announced.

Second emissions reduction plan still off-track
11 Dec 2024
The government has released its final emissions reduction plan for 2026-30, copping criticism for relying on unproven technology such as carbon capture and storage, as well as failing to meet crucial climate targets.

The real reason everything’s getting more expensive
10 Dec 2024
Inflation was a defining issue in the presidential election. Here's how climate change is making everything more expensive.

Methane-reducing supplement plagued by misinformation
10 Dec 2024
Concern has been rising over the use of a feed supplement, Bovaer 10, to reduce methane production in cows.

Green Party releases alternative climate plan
9 Dec 2024
The Green Party wants to take forestry out of the Emissions Trading Scheme and instead create biodiversity credits for afforestation.

Kāinga Ora’s ‘KO’ to the wool industry
9 Dec 2024
Media release | Federated Farmers says Kāinga Ora’s decision to categorically rule out use of woollen carpets in social housing is a total slap in the face for struggling Kiwi sheep farmers.

Govt releases controversial methane review
5 Dec 2024
The Government “will carefully consider” the findings of an independent review on New Zealand’s biogenic methane science and targets, it announced yesterday.

No excuse to not slash climate pollution – Carr
5 Dec 2024
Outgoing Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr says every sector faces challenges in reducing its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and New Zealand is not unique in its barriers.

Govt sponsors new methane testing facility
4 Dec 2024
A new feed conversion efficiency and methane testing facility is looking to fill a gap in New Zealand methane research.

Low emission meat products 'simply greenwashing'
3 Dec 2024
A new meat product using bobby calves, that its producer claims will address ethical and environmental concerns in the New Zealand dairy sector, is being labelled "industry greenwashing".

Food system must be included in climate policy – expert
3 Dec 2024
Improving farming production methods, rather than reducing the number of animals farmed, will likely have only a limited overall impact on reducing emissions, according to an expert.

Finding the recipe for a low carbon diet
3 Dec 2024
COMMENT: The majority of New Zealanders could easily blow their entire two-tonne carbon budget just on food. However, not all foods are created equal, writes Emily Mabin Sutton.

Agribusiness-friendly states in Brazil try to undo forest protections
3 Dec 2024
Several states in Brazil are trying to rid themselves of rainforest protections, bowing to pressure from cattle ranchers and soybean growers to cut down trees and expand agriculture.

Controversy around methane review heats up
28 Nov 2024
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.

Labour slams National Party’s lack of action on climate
28 Nov 2024
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has attacked the National Party’s recent performance on climate, saying National has given up on climate action.

Exports risk multi-billion dollar hit if GMO rules deregulated
26 Nov 2024
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 2024
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.

Delaying agricultural emissions pricing comes with a cost
20 Nov 2024
Holding back on agricultural emissions pricing could cost New Zealand hundreds of millions more in future offshore climate mitigation.

Federated Farmers slam banks for "unfair" emissions reduction targets
14 Nov 2024
By Shannon Williams | Banks setting emissions targets for their farming customers shouldn't be a big ask, according to an expert, as Federated Farmers cries foul over banks setting tougher emissions reduction targets for farmers in New Zealand than for their Australian farming customers.