Divestment means Fonterra can focus on its strengths
OPINION: Fonterra's board has certainly presented us, as shareholders, with a major issue to consider.
Fonterra says new analysis showing New Zealand dairy farms having the lowest carbon footprint in the world is a result of the country’s unique pasture-based farming.
Fonterra director of on-farm excellence, Charlotte Rutherford, says it also reflects the hard graft of the co-operative’s farmer shareholders.
“Which as an employee of the co-op makes me feel pretty proud,” says Rutherford.
“We’ve seen consumers become increasingly interested in the carbon footprint of their products, and today’s report confirms we’re well placed to meet people’s desire for food that’s kinder to the planet.
“We know more needs to be done to keep improving and we’re up for the challenge.”
Innovation is a key part of the co-op’s strategy and it has multiple partnerships to develop the tools and solutions needed to support farmers, particularly in areas where they face tough challenges, such as reducing methane emissions.
“One of the keys to helping guide farmers to continuously improve is ensuring they understand their emissions profiles,” she says.
“Last year, all our farmers received a greenhouse gas emission report specific to their farms. It’s a very practical step toward helping New Zealand meet climate change commitments.”
But finding a solution requires more than just hard graft from the co-op’s farmers and solutions like Kowbucha, seaweed and feed additives are being investigated for potential breakthroughs in reducing emissions from cows. Fonterra has also teamed up with Nestlé and DairyNZ to expand a promising plantain trial to help improve waterways and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The report from AgResearch, commissioned by DairyNZ compares New Zealand with 17 other countries. It confirms our footprint is 70% lower than the global average and 46% lower than the average of other countries in the study, which includes all major milk producers.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.