Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
Fonterra is installing a $36 million 20-megawatt electrode boiler at its Edendale site in Southland, as the co-op moves away from coal.
The electrode boiler will reduce the Edendale site's emissions by around 20% or 47,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum - the equivalent of taking almost 20,000 cars off NZ roads.
It will also help reduce Fonterra's overall carbon emissions from its NZ 2018 baseline by nearly 3% per annum once operational in 2025-26.
Fonterra says the investment is another step for the co-operative as it works to get out of coal by 2037 and reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 (from 2018 baseline).
Fonterra acting chief operating officer Anna Palairet says the team considered a number of energy options before deciding on the electrode boiler.
"Fonterra has a complex manufacturing operation spanning the country.
"As technologies develop, it's important we continually assess which energy source and technology is best for each site.
"With up to 15 million litres of milk being processed at our Edendale site each day, we need to ensure we have a secure energy supply that can meet processing demands."
Cost is also an important consideration.
Palairet says getting out of coal requires significant investment and the co-op needs to choose the best option that reduces emissions and operational complexity while also doing what's best for farmer shareholders.
Fonterra is partnering with Meridian Energy for the electricity supply who generate electricity from 100% renewable resources - wind, water, and sun.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
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