The Farmlander - August 2021

Page 20

How to eat the elephant in the room Thought leadership from Farmlands’ Head of Sustainability and Land Use, Katie Vickers, on the need for courage in reducing on-farm carbon emissions.

Not known for my patience, I regularly remind myself that if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together. This principle is relevant for many as we move through significant change in our food and fibre sector.

New Zealand is known for its natural environment and considering we farm a large portion of our natural capital, our future is in our hands. As a small country, our superpower is being able to innovate, be creative and drive for continuous improvement. The opportunity for New Zealand to lead the world in lowering agricultural emissions is there, but it will take courage and working together. Farmers and growers will be at the centre of this transformational change.

Farmers are tenacious, with strong problem-solving skills and an ability to think outside the box. A change in mindset is critical to being able to operate in a different space. A willingness to step outside the norm takes courage and commitment¹. Working towards carbon zero takes courage. For Farmlands, that has meant measuring, managing and mitigating our carbon emissions and also understanding the part we can play in supporting a shift to sustainable farming,

| Farmers are tenacious, with strong problem-solving skills and an ability to think outside the box.

20 | THE FARMLANDER

Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited | © August 2021. All rights reserved.

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