Farmers more aware of gas
More farmers are aware of the impact of livestock on global warming, says an agricultural greenhouse research expert.
New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre director Dr Harry Clark said farmer awareness of their greenhouse gas contribution was at a much higher level than 15 years ago.
This extended to growing recognition of international agreement to cut greenhouse gases, such as the Paris agreement, he said.
‘‘There is growing awareness now of the unusual greenhouse gas profile here, dominated by agriculture,’’ he told about 150 people at the recent mitigation of greenhouse gas conference in Palmerston North. ‘‘To meet our international commitments, we have to think carefully about what we do with the agricultural sector. I think 15 years ago, you wouldn’t have seen that awareness.’’
However, other than more efficient production, greenhouse mitigation on New Zealand farms was years away, Clark said.
The research centre was funded by the Government and overseas investment.
Farmer awareness in developing nations often centred on how to adapt to climate change such as coping with more rain or more desert, rather than halting greenhouse gas production, he said.
‘‘But in New Zealand, we have these strong international agreements, on reducing climate change.’’
He said many emissions in the US and Europe came from industrial plants, such as power plants and from cars.
‘‘You can get electric cars, and cleaner plants and a lot of those emissions will come down. Then unfortunately the focus will go on agriculture.’’
Animals produce methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide.
That needed to happen against the backdrop of another two or three billion people added to the world population - and that scenario was scary, he said.
MAKING CHANGES
Agriculture could make changes, Clark said. ‘‘The sectors have talked about efficiency, for instance, the sheep and beef industry saying it produces the same amount of meat with far less animals and fewer emissions.
‘‘[However] That only takes us so far. Then we need new technology.
‘‘If you have animals indoors, and you are feeding them every day, then there are things you can do, such as manipulate the feed, and there are some compounds coming. But these you have to feed every day. How do you do that to a sheep on the hillside? It is hard for an extensive system.’’
Clark said New Zealand’s immediate priority was to increase efficiency.
‘‘We need to do more research to develop new technologies. It is difficult to say when they will come along, but what we can say is very good progress has been made on the experimental side. However, then to go from experimental to something that works commercially, takes a number of years.’’
He said technology had to meet regulatory values and the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide, known as DCD and recalled from shelves in 2003, was a salutary lesson.
‘‘It has to be safe for people have no residues, and safe for animals as well.’’