Dry weather classification expands to North Island
The dry weather in some parts of the North Island has received medium-scale adverse event classification from the Government.
Consumers are more concerned about plastic packaging than sustainable food production.
That’s the findings of a recent New Zealand consumer study. A partnership between life science company Bayer and the NZ Nutrition Foundation (NZNF) released the insights from its inaugural Bayer Food Focus Project, which looks into NZers’ eating behaviours and food consumption.
Findings from the survey indicate that respondents identified the amount of plastic packaging as their top concern when making decisions to buy food and beverages. Some 42% of respondents rated it as ‘extremely’ or ‘very important’. However, this figure dropped substantially when respondents were asked about environmental sustainability.
Only 27% identified that knowing their food was produced in an environmentally sustainable way (including organic) was ‘extremely’ or ‘very important’. Furthermore, only 21% found the use of modern farming techniques to be ‘extremely’ or ‘very important’ when making buying decisions.
The study also highlighted that older participants were less likely to rank environmental sustainability as an important factor when deciding on food. 45% of people aged 15-34 years stated that food being produced in an environmentally sustainable way was either 'very' or 'extremely important' to them, compared to only 29% of those aged 55 years or more.
The project consisted of two key parts: the first Australasian pilot study conducted by Auckland University of Technology (AUT), using the new innovative Veggie Meter device to establish a benchmark of Kiwis’ vegetable and fruit consumption via a fingertip scan; and an online questionnaire with 1346 adult respondents, to understand which foods New Zealanders are most commonly consuming and why.
The Commerce Commission says connectivity options for rural New Zealanders are front-of-mind as it begins a formal investigation into the future of the copper network.
Grand Finalists have been selected, all regional finals have concluded, and the journey towards the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final is underway.
Hopes of NZ sheepmeat prices picking up anytime soon in the country's key export market of China looks highly unlikely.
Regional councils are welcoming the certainty for councils in today’s Resource Management Act (RMA) announcement by the Government.
ASB says the decision to sign on to the AgriZeroNZ joint venture came out of a wish to be a part of the solution.
Federated Farmers says changes announced to the Resource Management Act today mark the end of the war on farming.