Farmers can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and meet the targets set by the government's new Climate Change Bill by looking at new biotech solutions according to Zest Biotech chief technical officer Nathan Balasingham.
He said New Zealand should consider the opportunity to earn carbon credits by implementing some or all of the recommendations of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation to achieve a 37 per cent reduction in methane intensity.
The FAO had recommended options to reduce agricultural emissions and farming's environmental footprint, while continuing to ensure food security to feed a growing, wealthier and more urbanised world population, New Zealand biotechnologies, such as Zest Biotech's Biozest and AgResearch's high metabolisable energy ryegrass, having the capacity to increase productivity while reducing emissions.
"Both AgResearch and Zest Biotech have modelled the benefits, predicting an increase in farmgate returns of approximately $900 per hectare and a reduction of greenhouse gas of between 20 and 48 per cent," Mr Balasingham said.
"At 30 per cent reduction, a sheep and beef farm could deliver an estimated $23.40 per hectare in carbon credits. Zest Biotech has also proven that urea excretion can be reduced by 20 to 48 per cent.