Friday, March 29, 2024

Pamu, Forest and Bird form a team

Neal Wallace
Pamu, formerly known as Landcorp, is not cosying up to farm critics but including them in corporate governance to benefit the wider farming sector.
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Conservation group Forest and Bird and Pamu have agreed to work together to promote best environmental practice in New Zealand’s farming sector.

That follows the inclusion of fresh water ecologist and high-profile farming critic Mike Joy in a reference group to advise the state-owned enterprise on environmental stewardship.

Chief executive Steven Carden said diverse ideas and views provided by such groups and individuals are part of a bigger project to help shape Pamu’s approach to and impact on the environment.

“The worst thing for farming is to go in to a huddle and only talk to themselves or people that tell you what you want to hear.”

Forest and Bird wants to be proactive in its dealings with agriculture and to showcase the good environmental practice occurring in the industry, not just by Pamu.

Carden said Pamu plans to plant trees in areas marginal for livestock and will use Forest and Bird’s expertise to ensure the species used will enhance biodiversity.

The conservation group will also contribute to projects to enhance water quality and wetlands.

Carden said involvement of farm critics in decisions on how to improve the environment shows them solutions are often complicated and that no one has all the answers.

Joy continues to champion water quality but Carden said in his role with Pamu he is also seeing farmers and the wider farming sector are acting to improve water quality.

They want to be involved developing solutions instead of pointing the finger.

“I think it is extremely positive. 

“Rather than environmentalists fighting farming and farming resisting environmentalists, the farming sector and environmentalists are working collaboratively on solutions.”

Under Carden Pamu has been willing to seek input from those outside the farming sector and the agreement with Forest and Bird is a continuation of work to enhance the environmental work already under way.

“We recognise there is more we need to do as we face challenges like climate change and a fundamental rethink of the agricultural sector’s relationship with the natural capital of NZ.”

Two years ago Pamu formed the independent Environmental Reference Group to guide Landcorp’s environmental focus and take a leading role in implementing sustainable agricultural strategies that put environmental best practice first across all of Landcorp’s operations.

The six members were described as some of the country’s leading primary sector experts.

It has been chaired by Nelson-based environmental strategy expert Guy Salmon and included sustainable farming adviser and veterinarian Alison Dewes, Joy, agricultural economist and Maori agribusiness consultant Dr Tanira Kingi, primary sector marketing expert Dave Maslen and inventor and entrepreneur Angus Robson.

In August 2016 Pamu began phasing out the use of palm kernel with the transition to alternative feed supplements to be completed by June last year.

When announcing the move Carden said growing grass and producing pasture-fed animals is a point of difference for NZ, creating world-wide interest.

“Pamu wants our partners and customers to know they can trust that we farm sustainably and care for the environment.

“We need to anticipate shifting consumer expectations on how their food is produced and change how we farm accordingly.”

Last January Dewes joined the company as head of environment with responsibility for driving sustainable environmental management.

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