In its final report the commission states the emissions goal can be achieved through a combination of land-use changes and improved management techniques.
Management skills rather than outright livestock reduction targets have received increased attention from the commission, recognising the role successful farm leaders in gas reductions will play in spreading the required skills.
The commissioners have cited farm advisory services as also playing a key role in signalling changes.
Alongside this, low-emission sheep, stocking rate adjustments, changes to nitrogen fertiliser use and supplementary feeds are all seen as key to reduction achievements, along with more rapid adoption of agritech.
In what is largely unchanged from its original recommendations, the commission maintains its technical group’s findings are that a 5-10% reduction in agri-emissions is possible “without necessarily reducing on-farm profitability”.
The report also pushes the use of a pricing emissions for agri-emissions, with a legislated commitment by next year being sought, helping remove ongoing uncertainty among farmers and growers.
Commissioners have also requested the pathways to adopting new emission-reducing tech be made simpler, including streamlining food safety legislation and rules around adding compounds to animal diets that can reduce emissions.
Overall, the report tightens up on expectations to be placed on the entire New Zealand economy, noting the use of forests planted in the ’90s is not enough, with gross emissions in NZ up 26% since 1990.
Forestry’s role in absorbing emissions at a farm level is, however, highlighted, with a recommendation that smaller blocks of farm planted trees be encouraged.
Better pest management in newly established forests is also recommended, acknowledging the significant impact pests have in early stages of native establishment in particular.
Concerns about mass exotic tree plantings have also been recognised, with the commission seeking more government clarity on the role of permanent exotic carbon forests and their potential risk to communities and the environment.
