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With the Government wanting to implement huge costs on the livestock farming sector by making New Zealand the only country to include farming in an ETS, this old mutt thought it might actually get serious about funding mitigation research.
However, it seems PR stunts and warm fuzzies are the order of the day, going by its most recent effort.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor gained huge media attention for the Government’s backing of a project that “could substantially reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from cattle”.
But this “backing” amounted to a piffling $100,000 granted to the Cawthron Institute to see if a native seaweed might be turned into a greenhouse gas-busting cattle feed supplement.
The joke is that $100,000 is far less than O’Connor and his office staff would spend a year on travel, and apparently AgResearch has already rejected the seaweed option.
A company growing and processing seaweed with known methane-busting properties at a facility in Bluff is expanding internationally but New Zealand cattle farmers won't be getting the product anytime soon.
OPINION: A new study, published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, adds to some existing evidence about a simple way to cut emissions dramatically - seaweed.
OPINION: Research across the ditch has found that seaweed doesn’t just make a tasty wrap for sushi rolls.
Federated Farmers have reiterated their support for the coalition Government to abolish the present ban on the live export of animals.
As the coalition Government mulls new regulations to reinstate the export of live animals, debate is heating up between supporters and opponents.
New Zealand’s dairy sector cannot expect India to be a market for all its dairy products.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods’ net profit has plunged on the back of lower market returns which squeezed margins and impacted business performance.
OPINION: Most people will be aware of the Government's plans to boost coal, oil and gas production to meet energy requirements.
AgriZeroNZ has entered a new partnership with Britain's national innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Twenty rural community hubs across New Zealand will receive $5,000 to upgrade their facilities having been selected as the winners of Rabobank's Community Hub Competition.
As the dairy industry prepares to celebrate its top achievers at an awards night this Saturday, attendees are being warned to be aware of protests planned outside the venue – Baypark Arena, Mount Mauganaui.
