Winston Peters calls Fonterra vote result 'utter madness'
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
 Fonterra’s Palmerston North plant has a unique combination of a commercial heat pump and solar thermal plant to help reduce gas consumption and emissions output.
		  	
		  
		  		  
		  Fonterra’s Palmerston North plant has a unique combination of a commercial heat pump and solar thermal plant to help reduce gas consumption and emissions output.
		  
		  
		  
	  Fonterra has launched a unique hybrid emissions reduction solution at its Palmerston North manufacturing site.
The co-op’s first high temperature heat pump and solar thermal plant combination is up and running at Fonterra Brands manufacturing site, where much of the fresh white milk for the North Island is produced.
The heat pump converts excess heat from chillers and compressors into a heat source. This reduces the natural gas required by the site and is expected to remove 495 tonnes CO2e annually – the equivalent of taking 140 cars off the road.
This marks the fourth site within a year to upgrade energy infrastructure to help Fonterra reach its scope 1 and 2 target of 50% emissions reduction by 2030 (from a 2018 baseline).
Fonterra Palmerston North site manager Graham Thomson says the co-op is really excited about this unique combination of a commercial heat pump and solar thermal plant helping reduce gas consumption and emissions output.
The project received co-funding from the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority’s Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) fund and will help inform future decarbonisation projects at Fonterra.
Fonterra is undertaking a major decarbonisation effort.
It expects to reduce emissions further through a combination of energy efficiency initiatives and switching fuels at six manufacturing sites that still use coal and ultimately stop using coal by 2037.
“We’re in the process of converting the coal boilers at the Hautapu site to wood pellets,” the co-op says.
Once complete, this year, the Hautapu site will reduce carbon emissions by a forecast 15,785 tonnes per annum – the equivalent of taking about 6500 cars off New Zealand’s roads.
The Stirling plant wood biomass boiler has been commissioned, moving the site to fully renewable thermal energy for its process heat. Changing to this boiler will reduce the annual carbon emissions by 18,500 tonnes – the equivalent of taking approximately 7700 cars off New Zealand’s roads.
The new Waitoa wood biomass boiler is now operational and will reduce the site’s annual carbon emissions by approximately 48,000 tonnes, the equivalent of taking approximately 20,000 cars off New Zealand roads.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
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