“Dairy, sheep and beef now view the environment and sustainability front and centre, more so than they ever have and are translating it into their marketing strategy as Beef + Lamb NZ have with Taste Pure Nature.”
Farmers are listening and responding to community expectations for improvements to the environment even though they might not get the credit they deserve.
They have shown their commitment by investing in effluent management, water use, fencing streams, riparian planting and new fertiliser application technology.
This is now starting to show in improving water quality data that reveals major reductions, especially of phosphorus.
In Canterbury catchments farmers are committed to reducing nitrogen loss by changing management practices.
Ryan said there is also a lack of wider appreciation that even if farming ceased overnight there is a time lag for nutrients to be removed from soil, the result of previous practices.
He is confident regional councils will start reporting significant improvements in water quality in five years as gains from farmers changing their practices start to pay dividends.
A recent Environment Aotearoa report by the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics NZ highlighted the impact our way of life is having on the environment.
Based on a comparison with previous reports, analysis of more than 60 indicators and new methodologies, the report highlighted nine key issues.
It found native plants, animals and ecosystems are under threat, changes to land vegetation is degrading the soil and water, farming is polluting waterways and water use affects freshwater ecosystems.
The report also found urban centres create environmental pollution with urban sprawl occupying the best soils and destroying native biodiversity.
It concluded NZ greenhouse gas emissions per person are among the highest in the developed world and climate change is already affecting NZ.
Ryan said it shows more needs to be done but the primary sector is leading the way by adopting solutions to environmental challenges in marketing to differentiate its products.
“My observation is that, yes, we are facing significant challenges but, increasingly, these are being reframed as opportunities.”
The response to climate change has created new challenges for the sector and Ryan is confident farmers will once again show a response that is innovative, resourceful and creative.
“I’m actually optimistic about some of the new policy regulations being asked of farmers who right now may not feel happy staring down the barrel of nitrogen loss or greenhouse gas reduction.
“But over time it will compel us to do a better job of record keeping so we have overwhelming evidence farmers are doing what is expected of them.”
Farmers have shown that presented with a problem, once they understand it, they will get the necessary resources and respond.
That is happening now.
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards is evidence of the growing awareness and move to turn challenges into marketing advantages.
Management practices considered fringe 10 or 20 years ago are now mainstream while a recent poll of levy payers by B+LNZ showed support for more investment in environmental issues.
But there still needs to a be a balance between community expectations and social, economic or environmental considerations, Ryan said.
The farm environment awards, run by the trust, are evolving and next year a new climate stewardship award is being offered for farmers addressing greenhouse gas emissions.
