Simon Upton urges cross-party consensus on New Zealand environmental goals
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton is calling for cross-party consensus on the country's overarching environmental goals.
It's not only the rural sector coming under pressure to clean up its environmental footprint.
Also busy at it is the tyre manufacturer Trelleborg, working on its factories to meet the challenges of climate change.
For example, it is completely re-engineering its Sri Lanka factory’s steam raising plant by installing an advanced biomass boiler. Steam is essential in tyre curing, but the traditional oil-fired boiler burns 3.5 million litres of oil annually and emits 11,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents.
Trelleborg’s biomass-fired boiler will cut the plant’s CO2 emission to 1000t of CO2 . It will be commissioned next month.
The plant near Colombo employs 850 people and makes solid tyres for the materials handling and port industries, and pneumatic tyres for light farming applications.
Biomass for the boiler will be supplied by local producers, so shortening the supply line, further reducing the carbon footprint and supporting the local economy.
The work is an aspect of Trelleborg’s Blue Dimension approach to sustainability, combining environmental benefits with benefits for the customers such as higher efficiency and productivity.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.