Thursday, 18 August 2022 09:55

Funding to measure NZ's ag emissions

Written by  Leo Argent
MPI is calling for researchers to apply for funding to better measure New Zealand's agricultural emissions. MPI is calling for researchers to apply for funding to better measure New Zealand's agricultural emissions.

The Ministry for Primary Industries is calling on researchers to apply for funding to better measure the country’s agricultural emissions.

The funding comes from MPI’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research annual funding round, which recently opened for research proposals with $2.1 million available.

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Control (UNFCCC), New Zealand must annually report its emissions through the Greenhouse Gas Inventory. This calculates and records greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and industry in the country, as well as carbon sequestration from forests. MPI administers the agricultural side of this report.

Steve Penno says, this year, MPI is seeking proposals on nine priority areas, ranging from methane to the effects of plants on emissions.

“We’re seeking research proposals to maintain and improve our agriculture, forestry and land-use inventory. It will also be used to account for mitigation technologies as they are developed and implemented on farms in New Zealand.”

Penno says the research fund is an important tool in enabling reporting to the NZ Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the UN under the Paris Climate Agreement.

He adds that accurate information is essential for developing policy and verifying that efforts to reduce agricultural emissions across the country.

In Budget 2022 the Government committed $339 million through the Climate Emergency Response Fund to accelerate development and uptake of high-impact agricultural mitigation technologies. Of this, $1.5 million was added to the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research fund for 2022/23, taking available funding to $2.1 million for new projects over the next 12 months.

Penno says the fund also contributes to international efforts to drive down agricultural emissions.

“As one of the only developed countries with a largely pasture-based agricultural economy, we’re also able to share our research outcomes with less developed countries with similar agricultural sectors to boost their knowledge,” he adds.

The Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research funding round is opened on 14 July and closes on 12 August, with successful proposals expected to be announced in October.

More like this

Bikinis in cowshed

OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.

Editorial: Agri's mojo is back

OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.

Featured

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter