Are we in the coalition of science or cabal of fear?
Life Sciences Network chair and former Federated Farmers president William Rolleston spoke at the Bluegreens Forum in Methven last week. Here are excerpts from his speech:
President Obama signed the Trade Promotion Agreement in late June despite the negative commentary that it wouldn’t get through. This is a major step forward in the TPP process, but time is running short to reach any conclusions before political lockdown in the US.
Agriculture is an essential element of any agreement.
I recently heard my Japanese counterpart, at the World Farmers Organisation’s General Assembly in Milan, argue that TPP would reduce his nation’s local production and in his mind food security. He also worried that if Japan was producing less it would have to buy food from nations who could hardly feed themselves let alone Japan.
There was no consideration that Japan would be providing those nations with an income which could help lift them out of poverty and that food self-sufficiency does not equal food security. Building good and mutually beneficial relations with your trading partners leads to food security, not to mention international security. But this reflects what we are up against.
I also heard from our French counterparts that non-tariff barriers should be imposed on other nations who don’t meet French standards of practice because they wanted a level playing field. No mention that those farmers he was referring to had to get their product to international markets over dirt tracks rather than six lane motorways and use hoes instead of tractors.
It seems level playing fields are in the eye of the beholder. Or indeed the French Canadians who argued for supply management so Canadians could have the choice to buy Canadian dairy products. It seemed unreasonable to them that Canadians would buy uncontrolled Canadian product if they wanted it.
We need our New Zealand government to stand strong in the TPP negotiations.
Agriculture is still our strength and it is not for sacrificial slaughter on the table of compromise. If nations cannot tolerate free trade, including in agriculture, they need to step aside from the TPP negotiations and let those who are willing finish the deal.
While we have differences with some of our fellow farmers on the world stage, there are also issues which unite us, such as the vagaries of climate, the requirement to feed a growing population while reducing our environmental footprint, the struggle to remain profitable in light of international and local regulation and ensuring we have access to modern technology.
As we move toward climate change negotiations in Paris the rhetoric will become stronger. Bear in mind that the real negotiations are being done now and the substantial decisions will be made ahead of Paris.
COP21 – as the meeting is called – is just the last step. We have been pushing for a separate conversation on agriculture and as one delegate put it – a cow is not a car. I agree, but it doesn’t mean we are absolved of responsibility.
It is time for Federated Farmers to agree on a sound policy on climate change. One which recognises our opportunity to play our part while continuing to take agriculture forward through improved productivity and profitability.
New Zealand’s leadership in the formation of the Global Research Alliance has been recognised internationally including the World Farmers Organisation which has joined as a support member.
Later this year, farmers Doug Avery and Zac Mounsey will join other farmers from around the world for a week in Argentina in the context of climate change. This is a chance for them to learn from other farmers, but also to impart some of the lessons that have made New Zealand such a strong farming nation.
• William Rolleston is president of Federated Farmer; this is an edited version of his speech to the federation’s national council earlier this month.
