Farmers still lacking fixes for emissions
New Zealand is punching above its weight in agricultural emissions research but the science hasn’t yet spawned many practical solutions.
An independent review of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) found it was a world leader in emissions research.
However, almost a decade after it was set up, the centre hadn’t made a significant impact on emissions and was urged to pick up the pace on turning its science into practical solutions.
‘‘There is still a shortfall in feasible and practical mitigation options,’’ the review said. ‘‘This is recognised internationally as a scientifically challenging area for the agriculture sector.’’
The centre was launched in 2010 and is funded through the Primary Growth Partnership, with a $49 million investment in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions research over 10 years.
Nine years in, the review found the centre had developed approaches to current farming practices which would improve long-term efficiency but was yet to provide farmers with useful short-term mitigations.
‘‘Some approaches such as low greenhouse gas feeds and low methane sheep are nearing market-ready status, but others with potential high impact such as inhibitors and vaccines still have a way to go,’’ it said.
‘‘With Paris Agreement targets, new policies looming and increasing consumer and environmental pressure, there is a need for urgent acceleration of programmes if the New Zealand primary sector is to respond as required to remain viable in a low-carbon world.’’
NZAGRC director Dr Harry Clark said the review had strongly endorsed the research programme’s performance to date. ‘‘New Zealand is a small country, but we punch above our weight in climate change-related agricultural research,’’ he said.
About half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, with methane from ruminant animals like sheep and cattle the biggest contributor.
DairyNZ is one of nine NZAGRC members representing research, development, education and industry.
Its leader of strategy investment for responsible dairy, David Burger, agreed there was an ongoing need for substantial investment in technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The focus needed to be on finding workable technological solutions well before 2050, and ideally by 2030, he said.