Climate change and agriculture
Being a small nation, New Zealand would be much more vulnerable than other developed countries concerning the impact of climate change on its agriculture sector. The invariability of climate (alternative of drought and heavy rainfall), the rise of temperature, and stronger intensity of wind would inevitably have a negative impact on its agriculture sector[1]. That is why New Zealand should probably be more concerned about its reduction of greenhouse effects and should give up its ‘laissez-faire’ policy.
As we have seen New Zealand compared to other developed countries is unique as primary agricultural is responsible for half of its carbon emission. Methane and nitrogen are the main factors, respectively 62% and 35% of the total agriculture emission[2]. These two figures have increased dramatically over the last decades due to ‘the conversion of land into intensive dairy farming’[3]. As a result of this intensification, the utilisation of inorganic nitrogen and phosphate fertiliser increased from 420% over the period 1990-1992 to 2002-2004.
Cows are of the main cause of these bad figures. They produce 500 litres of methane daily equating to 1.2 metric tonnes a year. 80% are produced by ruminants, 58% from sheep and lambs, 28% from beef cattle and 18% from dairy cattle[4]. Excrement and breath are the main cause of CH4. Worldwide, they are responsible for a quarter of CH4 emission[5]. However, this problem is not really studied by developed countries as they are the cause of only 3.2% of total CO2 which means that New Zealand is the main vector of study in this field. It could explain the difficulties to mitigate CO2 emissions from agriculture[6].
Alternative ways to curbing carbon emission
Instead of treating agriculture as a normal sector, the government should emphasize on its uniqueness via research and technology transfer. These two options have been notified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as a fundamental pillar[7]. Research is essential to better understand, for instance, the rumen and the lower digestive track of ruminants which are the cause of methane emission, but as well, developing instruments to increase farm productivity. It can also resolve the problem of measurement of carbon emissions at farm levels, generating a possibility of integrating agriculture into the ETS. Moreover it is an excellent opportunity for New Zealand to have a strong standing and to be recognized internationally in this research. As far as technology transfer is concerned, the purpose is to allow transfer of new technologies effectively at wide scale. It requires a lot of communication and a huge degree of cooperation between scientists and farmers[8].
Organic agriculture: the best option for sustainable agriculture
Organic farming is one of the best solutions to developing ‘sustainable agriculture’. According to the international food standards (1999), organic is ‘a holistic production management systems which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional condition requires locally adapted systems’. Personally, I think that the government should focus on this development to mitigating greenhouse effects. Organic agriculture has a lot of advantages in respect of the environment, as a matter of fact greenhouse effects are less important, and there is a better biodiversity and low pesticide residues[9]. Moreover, it is a good opportunity to do business as organic food awareness is becoming more and more important to people. In New Zealand, the amount of certified organic land has increased from 46 886 ha in 2002 to 63 883 ha in 2007 meanwhile the sales increased from 70 million to 130 million over the same period[10]. There is a huge opportunity for New Zealand to be a leader in this sector as the sales over the next few years should be rise by 10%. There is a strong consumer demand especially in Europe which is aware that human-beings are responsible for negative impacts on the environment. They want to buy organic food to feel less guilty. This “green mentality” should open new potential markets for New Zealand’s farmers. At the moment, the Europe market represents 46% of the export and the US market 27% (increasing 12% over the period 2002-2007)[11]. Meanwhile, Australia and Oceania hold 42% of organic land versus 23% of Europe[12]. So there is a real advantage to intensify the switch from conventional farming to organic farming.
Some people argue that no research on organic land proves frankly that animal welfare is better treated, food is healthier and biodiversity is wider[13]. However, it is formerly proven that conventional farms are harmful for the environment and if no change is made the world is heading for a fall. The time has come to take its responsibility. Although magic solutions do not exist to reverse climate change, organic agriculture has the advantage of conciliating agriculture with the environment.
The biggest problem in New Zealand is that a huge proportion of farmers and consumers think that conventional agriculture is ‘clean and green’. They are not yet totally concerned with the impact of the intensive agriculture on the environment. For them, farming practices as well as pesticides are more environmentally responsible today than they were in the past, generating a lesser will to organic consumerism. So, the domestic demand is low compared to Europe or America where organic food is considered as healthy, natural and an environmentally responsible product[14].
[1] MAF policy, 18.
[2] Faure, 207
[3] Idem, 207
[4] Eric Dorfman. Melting point: New Zealand and the climate change crisis (Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin, 2008), 64.
[5] Harry, 163
[6] Idem, 165
[7] MAF policy, 18
[8] Idem, 14
[9] OECD Workshop on Organic Agriculture. Organic agriculture: sustainability, markets, and policies (Paris: OECD; Wallingford, U.K. : CABI Pub., 2003), 10
[10] Janet Grice, Mark Cooper, Hugh Campbell, and Jon Manhire. The State of the Organic Sector in New Zealand, 2007. Centre for the Study of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Otago. http://www.csafe.org.nz/Organics%20Summary%20Report.pdf (accessed October 22nd)
[11] Idem
[12] MAF Policy (N.Z.). International Development Relating to Organic Agriculture. MAF Policy, March 2005. http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/sustainable-resource-use/organic-production/international-developments-in-organic-agriculture/index.htm (accessed October, 22nd)
[13] OECD, 346
[14] Rebecca Reider. Growing organicallt? : human networks and the quest to expand organic agriculture in New Zealand ( Lincoln, N.Z. : Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit, 2007), 69