FONTERRA AND NESTLÉ PARTNER ON AMBITION TO CREATE NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS DAIRY FARM

 

PRIMARY EXPORT SECTOR GROWING

First a brief look at how the primary export sector is growing.

Food and fibre exports are predicted to reach a record $55 billion in the year to next June.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has just released its Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report which looked at how different parts of the sector are tracking - and it is good news for all.

Dairy export revenue is expected to grow six per cent to $23.3 billion driven by strong global prices and a weakening New Zealand dollar.

Red meat and wool exports are forecast to remain steady at $12.4 billion and horticulture is forecast to grow five per cent to just over $7 billion, thanks to high yields from this year’s grape harvest and rising prices for avocado, onion and wine export prices.

The arable sector has also seen a lift in profits with a forecast that it will bring in a five per cent increase of $265m.

Seafood exports are continuing to recover after Covid-19 lockdowns around the world squashed demand.

Exports are forecast to grow four per cent to $2b.

NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS DAIRY FARM

Tasman dairy farmers will be looking forward to net zero carbon emissions

Fonterra and Nestlé today announced a new partnership designed to help reduce New Zealand’s on-farm emissions, including a New Zealand first – a drive to develop a commercially viable net zero carbon emissions dairy farm. 

 

Over the five year project the farm, run with co-partner Dairy Trust Taranaki, will examine all aspects of farm operations to reduce carbon with the aim of cutting emissions by 30% by mid 2027, and a 10 year ambition of reaching net zero carbon emissions.

 

The demonstration farm at the centre of the project is a 290 hectare property surrounding Fonterra’s Whareroa site.

 

Dairy Trust Taranaki will work with Fonterra and industry partners to reduce total emissions on the farm, including methane, with successful solutions also being good for the farmer, good for the cow and good for the milk.

 

Lessons learned and activities will be shared through open days with farmers, who can then adopt the techniques and technologies most appropriate for their own farms. The practices must be economically viable and practical for farmers to adopt.

 

Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says the collaboration will help both Fonterra and Nestlé accelerate progress towards their greenhouse gas emission goals.

 

“New Zealand already provides some of the most sustainable nutrition in the world through its pasture-based dairy system. This new partnership will look at ways to further reduce emissions, increasing the country’s low-emissions advantage over the rest of the world.”

“Part of our strategy is to lead in sustainability and we aspire to be net zero by 2050. We know we will make bigger gains, for both the Co-op and country, by partnering with others. Working with partners such as Nestlé is our best opportunity to create innovative solutions to local and global industry challenges.

 

“As well as our own goals, it’s important we help our customers achieve theirs. Nestlé has ambitious plans and we look forward to working together to discover systems that could help our farmer owners to continue to build on the already good base they have.”

 

Nestlé New Zealand CEO Jennifer Chappell and  Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell

Nestlé New Zealand CEO Jennifer Chappell said the Taranaki farm would build on Nestlé’s work around the world to help transform the dairy industry.

 

“Dairy is our single biggest ingredient, and our vision is that the future for dairy can be net zero,” Ms Chappell said.

Fonterra is a co-operative owned and supplied by about

9,000 farming families in Aotearoa New Zealand. Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do, and they are committed to leaving things in a better way than we found them. We are passionate about supporting our communities by doing good together. 

Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. It is present in 187 countries around the world, and its 291,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Its more than 2000 brands range from global icons like Nescafé or Nespresso to local favourites like Milo and Maggi.

Nestlé was one of the first food and drink companies to publish a Timebound Climate Roadmap in 2020 and set the ambition to halve their absolute emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond