Winston's crusade
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer and associated businesses.
Fonterra has launched its ‘carbonzero’ certified NZMP organic butter to the North American market, the first such ingredient product in its portfolio.
Kelvin Wickham, chief executive Fonterra Africa, Middle East, Europe, North Asia, Americas (AMENA), says that ‘carbonzero’ ingredients, like NZMP organic butter, can help unlock real benefits for customers.
“It helps them to meet their sustainability targets, signal environmental values, and grow brand preference and market share through differentiated products,” he says.
“Fonterra New Zealand dairy farming already has one of the world’s lowest on-farm carbon footprints, approximately one third of the global average, putting NZMP in a strong position to offer sustainability solutions that help customers reduce their environmental impact, while claiming an advantage in the market.”
To become ‘carbonzero’ certified, Fonterra has partnered with an independent company called Toitu Envirocare. This company measures the impact of producing the NZMP organic butter, all the way from farm and manufacturing, through to distribution and even the disposal of packaging by customers.
“Understanding our footprint means we can offset our impact with high quality carbon credits from projects, including native forest regeneration in New Zealand and gold standard renewable energy projects,” says Wickham.
Lara Phillips, senior manager of Fonterra Sustainability Solutions says it is delighted to be to offer NZMP customers a way to contribute to a lower carbon future.
NZMP organic butter ‘carbonzero’ certified is currently available to customers in the US. Over time, to support customer needs and demand, NZMP will look to broaden the portfolio to more product categories and regions.
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.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.