The initiative was timely.
The Labour-led Government elected in September intends enacting zero-carbon legislation that sets a new 2050 target to reduce emissions and set five-yearly emissions budgets to help reach the target.
By mid-July about 16,000 people and organisations had expressed their views on a discussion paper that invited feedback on the proposed 2050 carbon-neutral bill.
The Government plans to introduce the bill in October, subject it to select committee scrutiny until March next year then enact the legislation to take effect next April.
Scientists, meanwhile, have been looking for ways to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions from methane and nitrous oxide and develop mitigation options.
An AgResearch team, for example, has been working with public and industry funding on a methane vaccine that would allow farmers to vaccinate animals to inhibit methanogens in the rumen.
Trials done by AgResearch, DairyNZ, Lincoln and Massey Universities and others are finding feed solutions – forage rape, plantain or fodder beet – that can reduce emissions.
The best and most obvious option is to reduce stock numbers but that would be more attractive to farmers if they could increase performance per cow at the same time to maintain production.
Scientists are developing genetic technologies for reducing replacement rates and improving animal health and reproduction.
The Government is investing about $20 million a year in the research and development of ways to reduce biological emissions from agriculture.
The NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre is the co-ordination agency for the research.
A forum in Wellington on September 14, organised by the NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science, will address the issues of agriculture and the Emissions Trading Scheme and look at how science can help farmers respond. International business commentator Rod Oram will facilitate the forum
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor will explain how the Government plans to reduce emissions from agriculture and where the Government is going with its zero-carbon legislation.
Green Party MP Gareth Hughes and former Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will set out their respective party policy thinking for agriculture and a Ministry for Primary Industries official will explain the ministry’s role in creating policy for dealing with agricultural greenhouse gases.
Industry speakers will include Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium general manager Mark Aspin, Landcorp innovation manager Paul McGill, Federated Farmers vice-president Andrew Hoggard and Dr David Burger from DairyNZ.
The forum will review, assess and discuss the choices available for politicians to debate as Parliament examines the new legislation and for farmers to implement to meet the challenge of the greenhouse gas emissions targets likely to be set for them.
It is a very important forum to develop critical thinking because the Government has signalled the role of agriculture in the ETS will be considered in the second half of 2019 after receiving advice from the Interim Climate Change Committee on whether and how agriculture should be brought into the ETS.
The NZIAHS represents more than 500 members covering all aspects of the primary sector including research and teaching in the Crown research institutes, universities and private sector companies involved with the meat, wool, dairy, fertiliser and horticultural sectors and extension and management services.
