Unsung heroes under the soil
Much of the scientific work being carried out at the Massey University led regenerative agriculture project, Whenua Haumanu, is below the ground.
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.
Ham has edged out lamb to become Kiwis’ top choice for their Christmas tables this year.
Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) has announced real estate company Bayleys will be the naming partner for its 2025 conference.
As New Zealand enters the summer months, rural insurer FMG is reminding farmers and growers to take extra care with a new campaign.
Hato Hone St John is urging Kiwis to have a safe summer this year.
Hawke’s Bay’s Silt Recovery Taskforce has received the Collaboration Excellence Award at the Association of Local Government Information Management (ALGIM) Awards.
Construction is underway at Fonterra’s new UHT cream plant at Edendale, Southland following a groundbreaking ceremony recently.
OPINION: Before we all let The Green Party have at it with their 'bold' emissions reduction plan, the Hound thought…
OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be,…