increase font size
New Zealand's policy makers' misunderstanding of 'food safety,' may be adding thousands of dollars to the individual cost of agricultural production at the farm gate.
The World Bank in New York made this major admission to Massey University's Executive MBA students, says one of those students Letitia Isa.
"I was stunned to learn what we know as 'food security' is defined by the World Bank as 'food safety'. It may sound like semantics but it carries a huge implication for our agricultural producers and exporters," says Isa.
"This simple but fundamental misapprehension may see New Zealand jumping ever higher but illusionary hurdles. Instead of higher standards boosting returns, they may in fact be eroding them for almost no financial gain.
"When the World Bank says food safety they are not talking stainless steel, the National Animal Identification and Tracing Scheme or the Emissions Trading Scheme. What the World Bank means is how New Zealand can contribute to the feeding nine billion people by 2050.
"That carries with it a powerful but different policy message.
According to the University of Waikato's Professor of Agribusiness, Jacqueline Rowarth, New Zealand can feed some 24 million people. The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation says developed countries need to increase output by 70% to do their bit.
"It might sound provocative, but we need to seriously weigh the cost-benefits of adopting polices that do not generate tangible revenue at the farm gate, or increase production," says Isa.
"While European supermarkets seem to be a de facto political and policy benchmark, are ever higher compliance costs worth it?
"It may sound counter intuitive, but perhaps quantity does have a quality all of its own. A simple metric maybe if a policy adds a dollar of cost, does it produce well over a dollar of added revenue at the farm gate?
"Moreover, are our other policy settings, particularly around Genetically Modified Organisms, retarding New Zealand's ability to do its fair global share?
"Certainly, the way the World Bank defines food safety needs to become central to New Zealand policy formation. If not, we risk unprecedented global disorder that New Zealand could not escape," Isa concluded.
New research suggests sheep and beef farmers could improve both profitability and emissions efficiency by increasing lamb weaning weights, with only marginal changes in total greenhouse gas emissions.
Finding and supporting ‘champion farmers’ – or top-quality farmers - is one of best ways of getting other farmers to take the appropriate measures to mitigate environmental issues, according to a leading Irish scientist Dr Mary Ryan.
OPINION: As the fuel crisis hits the country and rural New Zealand in particular, perhaps it's time to turn to one of the kaumatua of the rural sector, Pita Alexander - farm accountant, advisor and a source of knowledge and insightfulness.
The executive director of the Global Dairy Platform (GDP) Donald Moore says research being done at Massey University's Riddet Institute will help avert world hunger.
New research suggests Aotearoa New Zealand farmers are broadly matching phosphorus fertiliser use to the needs of their soils, helping maintain relatively stable nutrient levels across the country’s agricultural land.
State farmer Pāmu says a programme it's running to help skilled operators into farm ownership is paying dividends.
Central Otago farmer Bevan McKnight no longer worries about leaving a few Angus cattle behind while mustering on the 13,000ha station he leases.
Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) and the Ag Emissions Centre have completed the latest phase of a mult-year methane research project, providing important insight into the role genetics may play in reducing gross emissions.
A lavish signing ceremony in Delhi has cemented in place a deal that will have massive economic benefits for some of NZ's key primary exports - notably forestry, horticulture, sheepmeat and wool.
Fonterra has announced interim changes to the leadership of its Global Ingredients business.
OPINION: When Donald Trump returned to the White House, many people with half a brain could see the results for…
OPINION: Media trust has tanked because of what media's more woke members do and say.
