What Would Synlait Be Worth to Fonterra or a2 Milk?
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
The dairy co-op recently unveiled its first electric milk tanker for which it received $427,000 in co-funding from taxpayers to offset the estimated total cost of $850,000 to purchase the electric truck cab/chassis and convert it into a tanker.
The tanker - apparently named 'Milk-E' - will be based at Fonterra's Waitoa plant, where there's a lot of close supplying farms on relatively flat land.
This begs the question, just how realistic and sustainable are electric milk tankers if they can only do short runs with no hills to maintain battery life?
Looks like more greenwashing than anything realistic.
Meanwhile, speaking of greenwashing, Energy Minister Megan Woods, who was on hand to unveil the electric truck, had a V8 BMW740 and driver waiting outside to take her to her next appointment!
