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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 1, 2021
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NZ dairy farmers lead the way Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz A NEW analysis from AgResearch shows that New Zealand dairy farmers have the world’s lowest carbon footprint – at half the emissions of other international producers. The study of 18 countries showed that the NZ dairy industry had an on-farm carbon footprint that was 46% less than the average of the 18 countries included in the study. The study showed milk production from NZ as defined from ‘cradle to farm gate’ is 0.74 kg CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per kg FPCM (fat and protein corrected milk). The average within the study is 1.37 kg CO2e per kg FPCM. The method used to calculate the emissions is the IPCC’s regional specific approach rather than the IPCC’s default setting, which when used lifts the footprint to 1.17 kg CO2e per kg FPCM. DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says the study reaffirmed what the industry had largely thought – that NZ dairy production was world-leading in terms of the carbon emissions for the milk it produces. He says there are two reasons why the industry had such a low footprint; its pasture based, outdoor farming system and secondly, the innovative, productive nature of New Zealand dairy farmers. “Our systems are highly productive and our farmers are innovative and they invest and use research,” Mackle said. Commissioned by DairyNZ, the study was independently
WORLD-LEADING: New Zealand’s grass-fed outdoor farming systems have helped keep the dairy industry’s carbon footprint low in comparison to other dairy producing nations.
produced by AgResearch and peer-reviewed by an international specialist in Ireland. The research analysed 55% of global milk production, including major milk producing countries such as Germany, India, USA, France and the Netherlands. Mackle says the strict criteria around countries having at least 100 farms to go into the study’s data set limited the amount of countries used in the research. At 0.74 kg CO2e per kg FPCM, NZ was followed by Uruguay at 0.85, Portugal at 0.86, Denmark at 0.9 and Sweden at 1. Peru was the highest emissions producer among the countries studied, at 3.29 kg CO2e per kg FPCM. Peru is followed by Costa Rica at 2.96 and Kenya at 2.54. The carbon footprint is measured in total greenhouse (GHG) emissions per kg of product.
Ireland, which often is compared to NZ’s dairy industry, was 10th at 1.18 CO2e per kg FPCM. The ‘cradle to farm gate’ analysis calculated milk’s footprint from paddock to when it leaves the farm gate. It includes inputs such as fertiliser and imported feed. The research compares carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions per kilogram of milk (fat and protein corrected milk – the nutritional content recognised in the study as CO2e per kg FPCM). This is an internationally recognised method. The countries selected had published research that enabled a like-for-like comparison. AgResearch scientists Andre Mazzetto and Stewart Ledgard led the research, following methodology in line with International Organisation for
Standardisation (ISO) standards. Mackle says 85% of emissions in the milk making process come from inside the farm gate on NZ farms. “If you are highly efficient at the farm level like we are, you can still ship your product to countries like Ireland and still be more efficient than the local product. That’s because roughly of the 15% remaining carbon, 10% is processing and 5% is transport,” he said. The study is a strong value proposition for the dairy industry as customers put greater emphasis on the environmental footprint of food products. But that did not mean the industry could rest on its laurels, he said. “At the same time, we have to sustain that success and that means building on it and that means getting better. This is not about ‘job done’, it’s a great base to start from,” he said. There were no easy answers when it came to further efficiencies, and Mackle believed technology could play a crucial role in further lowering dairying’s footprint. “Because we are already so efficient, there is no silver bullet to even greater efficiency. Significant investment in research and development is needed to find solutions,” he said. The release of the study comes on the eve of the Climate Change Commissioner releasing a draft blueprint for how the country could reduce its carbon footprint. That blueprint is expected to contain details on to what extent agriculture will have to reduce its carbon footprint. Mackle says it was timely
because it gave context to where the industry sat. The study had taken a year before being completed in November and had just finished being peer reviewed. “The [Climate Change] commissioner has been through some pretty robust analysis and we look forward to seeing it and engaging in it.”
Because we are already so efficient, there is no silver bullet to even greater efficiency. Significant investment in research and development is needed to find solutions. Tim Mackle DairyNZ Waikato dairy farmer and climate change ambassador George Moss says pasture-based farming and genetic improvement are key components to farmers’ low carbon footprint, but there is more that could be done in addressing climate change. “We are world-leading at emissions efficient milk production, but we must continue to adapt and adopt new technology and knowledge,” Moss said. “Our global competitors are never far behind, plus we know it is the right thing to do for our environment, our consumers and humanity as a whole.”
Numbers down but quality shines through Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz ENTRY numbers may have been down on past years at the 2021 New Zealand Dairy Event in Feilding last week, but the quality of cows on show was still high, organisers and participants say. Event organising committee co-chair Lawrence Satherley says because of Mycoplasma bovis the event has not been held for the past two years and the uncertainty created by covid-19 affected this year’s turnout. Bearing that in mind, he says the 270 cows entered compared well with the 400 that were part of the event the last time it was held. “We’re rapt with it. It’s a unique event that usually brings together animals from North Cape to Bluff,” Satherley said. “We haven’t run it for two years but this year’s entries are a good start. “We’ve got the best animals from around the country. There’s some top cows here.” There were entries from as far south as Ashburton and as far north as South Auckland. Youth are traditionally an
WINNER: Tom Bennett with his six-year-old cow that was named supreme Holstein champion at the NZ Dairy Event.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Morrinsville’s Tom Bennett and his supreme Holstein champion are joined by his wife Fran, right, mother-in-law Linda Deane and children Harrison, two, and seven-month-old Fearne.
important part of the event and Satherley says this year was no different. “There’s more young people involved in this event than any other, except the Young Farmers competition,” he said. “They love their animals and they’re passionate about the industry.” Julie Pirie, who travelled to the event from Ngatea on the Hauraki
Plains with her daughter Ella who was taking part in the youth competition, says the event is educational and provides young people with encouragement. “It’s not just about pretty cows. It’s about learning things like animal husbandry and what makes a good cow,” Pirie said. This year was the third time she has attended the event and despite the lower than usual
number of people there, the standard of the cows was very high.
“It would be nice to see more (people), but you really had to work for your ribbons,” she said.
