Ruminant Biotech aims to equip 100 million cows with Emitless methane-reducing tech
New Zealand's Ruminant Biotech says that while it has big goals, the scale of the problem it seeks to solve requires it.
"We already have low-emission climate-friendly farming practices – it's called organic farming," says Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health.
At the climate talks in Paris, Prime Minister John Key said that cost-effective technologies for reducing New Zealand's agricultural emissions were not yet available.
The Soil & Health Association (SHA) says not only do we already have the technology and the know-how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, but using this technology will also have multiple other benefits for our economy, our environment, our soils and waterways, and our health.
Nearly 50% of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions come from farming, by moving towards organic and biological farming, carbon, methane and nitrous oxide emissions will all be reduced, says SHA.
"Soil & Health is calling on the government to reinvest the taxpayer money going to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, and instead use it to help farmers transition to organic practices," says Thomson.
"The $20 million Mr Key just promised to the Alliance would be infinitely more effectively invested in growing the organic farming sector. Helping farmers transition to eco-friendly, climate-friendly organic farming will be good for our health, wealth and environment. What's not to like about that?"
SHA says by farming organically, farmers can reduce stock numbers and still get the same income, because global markets are demanding clean, green, pasture-fed, GE-free and organic food — and are prepared to pay a premium for it.
Lower stock numbers mean lower greenhouse gas emissions, as well as reducing the impacts on soils and waterways.
SHA says, in addition, organic farms have better soil structures and better soil moisture-holding capacity, which will help farmers cope with the effects of climate change that we are seeing already. SHA claims organic farms are also more resilient in the face of floods and droughts.
The association also says non-organic farms generally use pesticides that are either known or suspected carcinogens, so going organic will also reduce the nation's health bill by reducing or eliminating the use of harmful chemicals.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.