Government unveils draft emissions reduction plan for public consultation, New Zealand dairy sector unites to boost genetic gain, and Rural Women New Zealand call for safer country roads. Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather! Government unveils draft emissions reduction plan for public consultation Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has announced the release of the government's draft Emissions Reduction Plan for public consultation. The plan outlines how New Zealand aims to stay within its first two emissions budgets while continuing economic growth. Minister Watts emphasised that effective climate change policies can allow the country to meet its environmental commitments without sacrificing economic development. The draft plan centres around five core pillars of the government's recently released climate strategy. Key policies include doubling renewable energy through reduced consenting burdens, targeting 10,000 public EV chargers by 2030, and lowering agricultural emissions by equipping farmers with emission-reducing tools. Additional measures involve investing in resource recovery and exploring carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies. The consultation also covers potential changes to the NZ Emission Trading Scheme and modifications to actions from the first Emissions Reduction Plan. Watts noted that while projections show New Zealand remains on track to meet its first Emissions Budget, the government is seeking public feedback on the impact of its new approach. The final Emissions Reduction Plan for 2026-2030 will be completed by year-end, following consideration of public input and advice from the Climate Change Commission. New Zealand dairy sector unites to boost genetic gain New Zealand's dairy industry is rallying behind a new report aimed at accelerating genetic improvements in the national herd. The Independent Working Group's final report, endorsed by leading genetic companies, outlines recommendations to enhance the rate of genetic gain across the country's dairy cattle. DairyNZ, LIC, and CRV have all committed to considering the report's suggestions, recognizing the critical role of genetic advancement in the industry's future. LIC chair Corrigan Sowman emphasised the importance of genetic gain for farmers' success, while CRV managing director James Smallwood welcomed the report's focus on international models for workable solutions. The report identifies reasons why New Zealand has lagged behind international competitors in this area. It also highlights how the country can quickly catch up through key actions, promising significant benefits to dairy farmers. These include efficiency and productivity gains through more resilient, profitable, and manageable animals. DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel described the report as groundbreaking, noting its comprehensive approach to addressing sector challenges. He stressed that achieving world-leading genetic gain will require substantial contributions from all industry players. Key recommendations include strengthening the National Breeding Objective to drive genetic improvement. This involves enhancing data collection from commercial dairy herds and encouraging wider use of genomic technologies aligned with national breeding goals. As the sector moves forward with these recommendations, farmers can anticipate positive impacts on their operations, including easier management and increased profitability. For more check out the latest Dairy Exporter for the full special report on genetic modification as well as a special episode on this week's Dairy Exporter podcast. Research reveals mixed future for agriculture amid protein innovations New research funded by the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge suggests New Zealand's dairy sector may face greater challenges from emerging protein technologies than the meat industry. However, dairy companies argue the study oversimplifies their products' value and substitutability. The Protein Future Scenarios project, a collaboration involving several universities and research groups, examined the economic and environmental implications of three alternative protein technologies through to 2050. Jon Manhire from AgriBusiness, the research leader, identified precision fermentation as potentially the most disruptive technology. This method uses yeast in fermentation to replicate dairy proteins, creating ingredients for various dairy products. The study also looked at plant-based meat substitutes and cellular cultivation. Manhire says that plant-based proteins may have reached a plateau, while cellular cultivation remains in early development stages. Four scenarios were modelled, considering different rates of technology adoption and changing consumer demands. The research suggests that until about 2035, increased global protein demand might ...
