The report, due out next month, will also update the numbers in the Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord programme concerning permanent livestock exclusion from defined waterways and installed bridges or culverts for regular crossings.
Fonterra’s on-farm audits show 99.6% of waterways have been fenced and 99.9% of crossings have a bridge or culvert.
The numbers indicate only a few dozen riparian zones and crossings remain to be done throughout the country to meet Fonterra’s target of 100% compliance.
The programme, called Tiaki, was launched in August last year and increased and supplemented the work already done by Fonterra’s sustainable dairying advisers with farmers.
All 10,500 farms are to have a plan by 2025 and the first-year target of 1000 was met, the report will say.
During the past year Fonterra has worked with councils and communities to select 50 water catchments in which to sponsor environmental work.
It is also continuing to fund $2 million a year to the Living Water partnership with the Conservation Department in five high-priority catchments. That programme is halfway through its 10-year plan.
Fonterra has announced the appointment of an independent sustainability advisory panel chaired by Sir Rob Fenwick, the co-founder of the Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Other members are Land and Water Forum chairman Hugh Logan, large-scale dairy farmer and Fonterra Shareholders’ councillor Michelle Pye, matauranga Maori researcher Aroha Mead, White Cloud Dairy Innovation chairwoman Bridgit Coates and Australian author and former Greenpeace head Paul Gilding.
Fenwick said he relishes the chance to influence New Zealand’s biggest company with a multitude of challenges that affect the business, its owners the farmers and the country.
“When you bring together a group of people with very disparate interests from different backgrounds you often get surprising answers.
“I think that’s the value of these independent advisory groups.
“This one will be reporting to the board of directors. We’ll provide advice at the highest level and that makes such a difference.”
The panel will meet twice a year and provide guidance on Fonterra’s sustainability strategy, targets and initiatives to improve performance and outcomes.
At the first meeting this month the panel visited the Te Rapa dairy plant, a Waikato farm and the Auckland head office.
“Our future relies on the balance between a productive dairy industry and positive, sustainable environmental outcomes,” Fonterra chairman John Monaghan said.
“To achieve this we need to continue to challenge ourselves with frank conversations based on facts and science. The panel will be able to provide support with this.”
Chief executive Miles Hurrell said collaboration is key to sustainability.
“Some of the world’s biggest sustainability challenges are around food and we believe, like many, that the global food system must shift from being part of the problem to becoming a greater part of the solution.
“Environment Minister David Parker and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor have just announced the Government’s blueprint to improve freshwater quality, which is encouraging to see and we support their overall objective.
“We share their commitment to deliver healthy waterways for New Zealanders and appreciate the inclusive approach they are taking to solve the issues we all currently face.”
