Editorial: Punching Above Our Weight
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
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.
Blueberries have the potential to become a major horticultural export, earning up to $150 million within the next three to five years.
Twenty five secondary school students from around New Zealand recently completed a three day residential programme designed to explore career opportunities across the food and fibre production supply chain.
Conversions of sheep and beef farms to forestry have slowed, however new research from Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) suggests land of value for food production remains at risk.
OPINION: A simpler, clearer, more effective Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
Too many farmers put reclaiming excise duty on petrol into the "too-hard" basket, says farm accounting software provider, Farm Focus.
Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company has confirmed that chair and director Stephen Allen will retire at the co-operative's annual general meeting (AGM) on 3 December 2026, ending 30 years of service, including more than 20 years as Chair.