Helping our farmers

Recently elected NPDC councillor Anneka Carlson is a vegan.

She is representative of the dietary sea change that Matt Rilkoff describes in his excellent opinion piece (TDN, Oct 28 ‘‘Plant-based export products are an opportunity NZ must embrace’’).

It is axiomatic, NZ farmers need to diversify and transition to value added food, which is seen as healthier, more humane to animals and less deleterious to the environment.

We also need food exports which aren’t vulnerable to an oversupply on world commodities markets.

But how do farmers transition quickly without going bankrupt?

Clearly there needs to be massive government investment.

Interestingly Sanitarium’s most profitable food item in Australia is So Good almond milk. Ironically, almonds need obscene amounts of water.

Most almonds are grown in dry central California, where agriculture is heavily subsidised and reliant on controversial irrigation, which depletes the fragile water table.

California may have stolen the march with its ‘‘meat free Impossible Burger’’ and plant-based protein; however, NZ can catch up. We have one huge advantage over California, and most of the world - plentiful and reliable water.

Taranaki is already the home of Juno Gin, craft beers, croissants, pancakes and Texas BBQ Meats, and the list goes on.

If the Government is willing to subsidise Emirates Team NZ to defend the America’s Cup then surely it can invest heavily in helping farmers and Fonterra transition to more plant based food products.

Bryan Vickery,

New Plymouth