Climate change dilemma
Former Fonterra director Marise James says the future of the dairy industry depends upon the direction of travel with respect to climate change.
The summit has been organised by the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
“As we adjust to changing consumer trends and a changing climate, we must continue to support New Zealand farmers and growers to keep up their work reducing on-farm emissions, growing exports and retaining the sector’s competitive edge in international markets,” O’Connor says.
He says revenue from primary sector exports hit a record $53.1 billion in the year ending June 2022 and it is key to continue that momentum.
“Since 2017 the Government has secured or upgraded seven free trade agreements which bring huge market opportunities for our farmers and growers,” O’Connor says.
“The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate Summit is expected to be this year’s milestone event for agriculture and climate change. It is a joint initiative to unite member countries to increase investment and support for climate-smart agriculture and food production by 2025,” he says.
“This Summit presents a rare opportunity for an international meeting of Agriculture Ministers to discuss the sustainable reduction of agricultural emissions and the ways in which we can work together to support farmers and growers across the globe to shift the dial on their emissions.”
“Export growth for our sector will depend on our sustainability credentials and we’re focussed on working with farmers and growers to be able demonstrate them,” says O’Connor.
