3 Oct 2023

Agribusiness-Government joint venture aims to cut farm emissions by 30%

From Nine To Noon, 9:05 am on 3 October 2023
Dairy, Sheep and Beef farms

Photo: RNZ

A joint venture between six major agribusiness companies and the government aims to reduce farm emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. 

AgriZeroNZ is an investment partnership between New Zealand's leading agribusiness organisations and the government.

Synlait, Rabobank, Fonterra, ANZCO, Silver Fern Farms and Ravensdown are the foundation partners, each investing tens of millions of dollars a year, matched dollar for dollar by the government. 

So far,  four investments in tech and research have been made - with a focus on lowering methane. The most recent is $4.1 million into a US-based start-up aiming to reduce methane while improving cow health.

To date, $165m has been committed through to 2026.

Kathryn speaks with Simon Limmer - CEO of Silver Fern Farm; Grant Watson - CEO of Synlait and Chief Executive of AgriZeroNZ, Wayne McNee.