University of Waikato research reveals 2050 drought threats
New research could help farmers prepare for a future where summer rainfall is increasingly unpredictable and where drought risk is rising, no matter what.
“Tackling climate change presents an opportunity for New Zealand to become global leaders in climate conscious agribusiness. We want our farmers and our broader industry to be world leading in climate change mitigation and adaptation,” says DairyNZ’s senior climate change advisor Milena Scott.
The workshops are a commitment under the Dairy Action for Climate Change, an 18-month long plan to build awareness among the dairy sector of the science behind climate change. This includes the reasons we need to take action to address our sector’s greenhouse gas emissions and the current mitigations options available to farmers.
“The first step is education. Farmers need to have a good understanding of climate change in order to recognise why they need to address their emissions alongside other New Zealand businesses and households,” says Scott.
“We want farmers to come out of these workshops understanding how their farm contributes to New Zealand’s greenhouse gas profile, and how specific environmental initiatives can improve their farm’s broader environmental footprint.
“Farmers need to feel comfortable that adopting new environmental initiatives will help lead to farm businesses that are both profitable and sustainable.
“Agricultural emissions are a challenge that the global food sector is dealing with, and we have an opportunity to show the world that it is possible to produce milk in a sustainable way and do our part to transition New Zealand to a low emissions and climate resilient nation.”
Registration essential at https://www.dairynz.co.nz/roadshow
