How strong is the goodwill?

Back slapping was the rage recently at Parliament as Government ministers and primary sector leaders hoorayed their plans to work together to tackle climate change.

Journalists heard Climate Change Minister James Shaw refer to this “historic moment” -- a coalition of all the agriculture levy paying organisations plus Federated Farmers, dairy and meat processors, Maori and Irrigation NZ. 

Shaw noted the remarkable shift in the agricultural sector over the last few years and in particular the last few months. The result is all the parties striking a deal to work together, he said.

Shaw is very happy about the agri sector saying it wants to lead on climate change and reduce emissions.

“For years, leading farmers have been putting in place incredible innovation up and down the country to increase efficiencies on farm. [Now to take] this good practice and roll it out across the entire country,” he said.

But Shaw agrees the technology to solve some of the problems is yet to be invented or proven. 

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor also pointed up the agriculture sector and Government working together. 

O’Connor stressed NZ’s reputation for producing the world’s finest food and the world’s consumers demanding to know how food is produced. They want to hear about animal welfare and climate change in particular, he said.

“We now have competitors claiming ‘zero carbon’ beef and food. So we have to step up and match [consumers’] expectations in the marketplace,” O’Connor said. 

“My concern is that we give the right signals to the right people to get the right change in practice, and the correct balance in getting profitability. But we must also get change in farm practice.” 

Also talking up the unified approach was Alison Stewart, chief executive of the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR). For the first time, she said, the livestock sectors and the plant based sectors are working together addressing a challenge.

“We are not just addressing the biogenic methane issues, but also the carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide issues.” So having the plant sectors talking to the livestock sectors will contribute to innovative farming that will allow us to move forward, Stewart said. 

Stewart believes the whole sector is collectively agreeing the way forward and will help each other out in the process.