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8 Catchment group links hills to the sea Vol 21 No 44, November 13, 2023
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Fonterra sets climate goals for suppliers Gerald Piddock
NEWS
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Fonterra
ONTERRA is aiming for a 30% reduction in its onfarm emissions intensity by 2030. It revealed the long-awaited target at its annual meeting in Methven last Thursday. Eighty-six percent of Fonterra’s emissions come from on farm. By focusing on emissions intensity, the co-op hopes to reduce the emissions produced from each tonne of FPCM (fat and protein corrected milk) collected by Fonterra by 30% compared with its 2018 baseline. The target comes after 10 months of consultation with the co-op’s 9000 farmer shareholders. Fonterra chair Peter McBride said that the co-op’s overall onfarm emissions target will affect each farm differently. “There is significant variation within and across farming systems when it comes to emissions intensity. We are confident that we can make solid progress towards our target by working together and sharing information, farmer to farmer. “There’s no one solution to reducing on-farm emissions. It will require a combination of sharing best farming practices and technology to reduce emissions – it’s both our biggest opportunity and our biggest challenge. “We have deep empathy for the
challenges our farmers are already dealing with. “The co-op’s approach will be to work alongside farmers, not against them, as we collectively make progress towards our target, including investing in methanereduction technologies.” In an online media briefing before the co-op’s annual meeting, Fonterra director of sustainability Charlotte Rutherford said the 30% target is a collective target over the whole co-operative.
There’s no one solution to reducing onfarm emissions. It will require a combination of sharing best farming practices and technology to reduce emissions.
Sharing the goods is ‘in my DNA’ Lyndon and Jade McNab and their children Archie, 12, Marla, 10 and Hollis, 6, from South Otago have donated 6000 meals through Meat the Need. The family farm a 3200ha property between Balclutha and Owaka and joined Meat the Need in 2020. Looking at the life their children lead, Lyndon says he feels an obligation to try to level that playing field through donating nutritious protein. Giving is part of his DNA, he says.
Nuffield Scholars step forward
Peter McBride Fonterra “This is not a 30% intensity reduction for individual farmers but rather the cumulative result of progress in different areas for the co-op overall.” The actions of individual farmers across the co-op will scale up to achieve that target, she said. The co-operative has broken down the target, saying it will be achieved via a 7% reduction through farming best practice Continued page 3
Carlos Bagrie, Rachel Baker, Jenna Smith and Peter Templeton, pictured with Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, centre, have been named Nuffield Scholars for 2024.
PEOPLE 7 Northland farmers fear hill country grazing will disappear under proposed freshwater plan changes.
The three parties trying to negotiate a coalition government have agricultural policies in common.
Chefs and farmers both use artistry to turn NZ beef and lamb into something special, Phil Weir says.
NEWS 4
POLITICS 5
OPINION 21
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