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Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.
The Government is pushing ahead with its election commitment to take agriculture out of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
It is also establishing a new Pastoral Sector Group to constructively tackle biogenic methane.
The announcement on the eve of the National Fieldays will please farmers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand farmers are some of the world’s most carbon-efficient food producers.
“The Government is committed to meeting our climate change obligations without shutting down Kiwi farms. It doesn’t make sense to send jobs and production overseas, while less carbon-efficient countries produce the food the world needs.
“That is why we are focused on finding practical tools and technology for our farmers to reduce their emissions in a way that won’t reduce production or exports.’
The Government will introduce legislation later this month amending the Climate Change Response Act 2002 (the CCRA) to ensure agriculture does not enter the NZ ETS.
The amendment to the CCRA will remove agriculture, animal processors and fertiliser companies from the ETS before 1 January 2025. For these organisations, their emissions associated with non-farm activities will continue to be covered by the NZ ETS.
Meanwhile an industry partnership to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and build the sector's resilience to climate change- He Waka Eke Noa is to be disbanded.
McClay says it is now clear that Labour’s He Waka Eke Noa process has failed and is no longer tenable.
“The primary sector worked collaboratively for years, however Labour rejected many of its proposals compromising consensus, relationships, and confidence across rural New Zealand. To restore confidence, Cabinet has decided to formally disestablish He Waka Eke Noa from today.
“It’s time for a fresh start on how we engage with farmers and processors to work on biogenic methane.”
To do this, the Government will engage directly with levy bodies and sector organisations that represent the pastoral sector - DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Deer Industry New Zealand, Federated Farmers, Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, and the Meat Industry Association. Terms of reference for the Pasture Sector Group will be developed and agreed with the group,” McClay says.
Zespri, in collaboration with ANL/CMA CGM, has initiated a feasibility study to investigate the potential for a low-emissions shipping corridor from Tauranga to Zeebrugge, Belgium, through the Panama Canal.
Taupo-based milk processor Miraka has notched another first on sustainability.
The Government is pausing the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised.
Agriculture and Overseas Trade Minister Todd McClay says his government is pulling out all the stops to get a trade deal with India.
OPINION: The Hound hears John Murphy, chair of Veg NZ, reckons greenhouse vege producers face severe challenges due to changes in the ETS.
A critically threatened endemic freshwater fish found only in Canterbury has been discovered at a Craigmore Sustainables farm near Timaru.
A hundred primary schools across New Zealand are now better resourced to teach their students about food and farming after winning ‘George the Farmer’ book sets in a recent competition run by rural lender, Rabobank.
Kiwifruit growers are celebrating a trifecta of industry milestones next month.
TB differential slaughter levy rates are changing with dairy animals paying $12.25/head, an increase of 75c from next month.
Taranaki's Zero Possum project has entered a new phase, featuring a high-tech farmland barrier and a few squirts of mayo.
The recent Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) conference in Wellington was signalling cautious optimism on the back of rising milk and store cattle prices and drops in interest rates.
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