Vegetables NZ Inc

CAN FOOD SECURITY BE SUSTAINABLE

UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY?

By Antony Heywood, General Manager : Vegetables New Zealand Inc.

Growers at energy workshops in May 2021

There are always lessons to learn from any workshop and the best workshops leave you aware of the opportunities as well as the challenges.

There are plenty of challenges facing growers at the moment, from climate change to freshwater quality. But one key question remains: are growers getting a fair deal, or are they paying what amounts to a tax under the direction of government policy due to their exposure to land? Overlay this tax with what growers are receiving for their produce and you have to question whether growers are getting much of a return on their investment. How does this relate to energy? Energy requires a large investment of capital. Capital requires profit to enable that investment. This is a vicious cycle, which ultimately depends on growers receiving a fair price for their produce. Back to energy. The latest climate change policy has as a goal the decarbonising of industrial process heat by 2037. This will affect all heated glasshouses that use carbon (coal and natural gas). In partnership with the EECA (Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority), the covered crop industry has undertaken a project to consider viable decarbonisation options for process heat, moving the sector to renewable energy. The project started with an energy survey to build a baseline of industry energy practices and heat resources. At the same time, a review of the technologies available internationally considered the viable options in the global marketplace, both in current practice and in emerging technologies.

The key messages of the project to date indicate a planning cycle for all growers to consider: 1 Have a greenhouse gas energy plan that allows for the transition to renewable energy. 2 You are not alone with the journey to renewable energy. Options for you to consider and steps to implementation will be covered under the project between EECA and industry. Stay connected to your

Covered Crop industry partners for the most up-todate information. 3 The first step is to look at the energy efficiency of your operation. There is no point in considering renewable energy sources until you have identified all the areas you can gain energy efficiency. Ultimately the output energy delivery option should diminish due to energy efficiency. Examples of energy efficiency measures include, but are not limited to: a. Screens (multiple if possible) b. Climate control / leaf temperature monitoring c. Prevention of energy leakage d. Vertical fans to eliminate hot and cold areas in the greenhouse. 4 Your energy plan may involve a number of energy generation or co-generation options depending on the low–high energy co-efficient required. This may include your current resources as part of the energy delivery process. Then, depending on your energy efficiency plan, augment other key renewable energy options into your energy delivery matrix. This may include heat pumps, biogas digesters, solar energy or a combination of these. 5 Reporting and monitoring your energy efficiency will be vitally important when gaining consents or extending consents over time. The Resource

Management Act (RMA) – or rather the next generation RMA – will be used by central government to administer climate change emissions. Having a clear plan, with supporting evidence of your emissions, will become mandatory for horticulture practice and resilience in a sustainable world.

are growers getting a fair deal, or are they paying what amounts to a tax under the direction of government policy due to their exposure to land

Covered cropping is a growing method that has huge potential to deliver food quantity and quality to a demanding and hungry world population. Given the land footprint to food volume equation potentially achievable with ping, it is a great way towards a sustainable food outcome.

There can be perverse outcomes to government policy. Please do not make food security one of them.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

IF IT’S FRESH PRODUCE IN NEW ZEALAND, WE HAVE IT COVERED.

Reaching all levy-paying growers of vegetables and berryfruit in New Zealand.

PRINT New Zealand resident NZ$135 (GST inclusive) Australia & Pacific NZ$230 (airmail delivery) Rest of the World NZ$250 or US equivalent (airmail)

VOL 76 | NO 05 | JUNE 2021

COVERED CROP EFFICIENCY

PAGES 46, 60, 65, 70

HORTICULTURE NEW ZEALAND

23 SEEDS FEATURE

HOR 3961 NZ Grower June 2021_FA1.indd 1 34 WORKER WELFARE 58 OUTLOOK FOR WINTER

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