Fonterra's New Roadmap Targets Climate, Nature, Animals
Climate, nature and animal wellbeing make up Fonterra's refreshed sustainability roadmap released last week.
OPINION: This old mutt is reliably informed that NZ ag sector hopes for the miracle of 'new technology' saving their on-farm emissions are likely to be sorely disappointed.
The supposed 'silver bullets' for mitigating livestock methane emissions are looking less and less likely - despite claims by both government and industry bodies.
Word is that, while refusing to release any trial data or even say who conducting its research, Fonterra has given up on its Bovaer trial - which was supposed to be the most promising option for dairy sector - due to 'technical difficulties'.
In the ovine space, big gaps supposedly remain with breeding low methane sheep, with some of these animals' recordig negative breeding traits.
Meanwhile, hopes for a livestock vaccine do not appear to have any future and there are also reported problems with previously announced 'low emissions' plantain.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.

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