HYGIENE MEASURES FOR GREENHOUSES By Helen Barnes : General Manager, TomatoesNZ Inc.
We have designed a poster on general greenhouse hygiene measures for staff, so you can display this prominently at your site. This poster provides common sense measures that are recommended for staff and visitors to prevent an infection in your greenhouse and minimise spread. The posters will be made available to all TomatoesNZ members. If you want further copies or more information on this please contact us. Grower energy workshops We hosted two workshops (in Christchurch and Pukekohe) in May focusing on energy for greenhouse growers, with over 100 people attending across the two events. Speakers covered several topics including: • Energy efficiency measures for greenhouse growers. • Low carbon greenhouse heating technologies. • Using sustainable heating from biomass and crop waste. • Learnings from growers undertaking energy efficiency changes and transition measures, along with tips for growers to consider. • The development of a greenhouse industry decarbonisation plan with the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA). There is an article on the Christchurch workshop on page 46. Presentations and other resources are available on the TomatoesNZ website https://www.tomatoesnz. co.nz/hot-topics/energy.
Consultation on coil boiler ban Last month we worked with HortNZ to submit on the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) proposal for phasing out fossil fuels on process heat.
Our key points were on: • The thresholds for “low-greenhouse-gas (GHG) emitting” sites, ensuring there is provision for fossil fuel boilers as back-up for security of energy supply and dealing with peak loads; and the definition of small versus large users. • Provision for industry level guidance on best practice and also on the process for responding to councils on what is economically and technically feasible for a greenhouse business and for the region. This included examples of where growers have looked at non-fossil fuels options and determined these are not economically and/or technically feasible and why. • Feedback on the timeframes for phase out of fuel types (coal and other fossil fuels). We emphasised the need for a clear transition plan which includes allowing for a regular review of the alternate energy options available by region and requirement. These are difficult to predict right now and it is important flexibility is built in to any policy to allow businesses the ability to operate and transition sensibly. This needs a collaborative practical approach over time to support efficient and effective transition and to avoid assets being stranded by policy moving too fast. • Emphasising the importance of local fresh and healthy fruit and vegetable supply, noting the opportunity cost of importing with the loss of food supply on a national and regional level, and lack of food security for New Zealand. • Noting the use of CO2 produced by gas and the need for best practices to manage situations where it may not be feasible to transition away from gas
NZGROWER : JUNE 2021 65
