Election 2020: Greens want to give farmers $ 297 million to help them be climate friendly

The Green Party promises to give farmers $ 297 million to help them transition to climate-friendly practices.

He also wants a tax on the use of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers, a labeling overhaul for organic and sustainably grown produce and a resource rental fee on commercial water use.

The Greens’ “Farming for the Future” agricultural policy was launched by co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw on a small organic farm in Canterbury.

Shaw said that “the reality is that the way we farm today” is accelerating climate change, but New Zealand could turn the causes “into solutions.”

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“Agriculture is on the front lines of the climate crisis, and any credible climate action must help people in the sector make the transition to more sustainable practices.

“Successive governments have encouraged intensive agriculture and prioritized profit over the environment and climate. This quantity-over-quality approach has degraded our rivers and waterways, harmed animals and is heating up the climate.”

The primary sector remained strong through Covid-19 and “that force will be needed to help Aotearoa navigate the next few years,” but smart decisions must be made to address the climate crisis, Greens policy said.

$ 297 million Farmers Fund

The Greens would create a $ 297 million Healthy Food and Agriculture Fund to help farmers move to low-emission agriculture.

Shaw said that along with the $ 700 million funding the government has already set aside for freshwater cleanup, this would total nearly $ 1 billion in support for cleaner agriculture.

The fund would provide loans, grants, include specific funding for Maori agricultural organizations and accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture, grow the organic sector and “set a fair price for greenhouse gas emissions”.

“As in any industry, there are farmers and producers who are already doing a fantastic job in
mitigate its impact on the environment. There are others in the middle, making an effort, ”Shaw said.

“But there are also some who are not doing enough, and to solve this problem by reducing
practices “.

Tax on artificial fertilizers

The Greens are also re-committing to a levy on nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers, which equates to about $ 1,500 a year for an average dairy farm and $ 1,200 a year for an average sheep.

The Greens previously wanted to impose a tax on nitrate pollution. This met with resistance from Federated Farmers, which said it was unfair as nitrates were used by other sectors, such as urban wastewater treatment plants.

And as part of the Greens’ three-point plan to address nitrogen pollution, it would also progressively tighten limits on nitrogen application and establish a “hard limit” for inorganic nitrogen dissolved in freshwater.

They also want to eliminate the Palm Kernel Expeller (PKE) as a complementary food by banning imports.

“These changes will not only protect our land and waterways, but will ensure that
Zealand maintains the clean and green brand that maintains demand for our products around the world.
world, “Shaw said.

Review of the Organic Products Bill

The Greens also want to revise the Organic Bill that is currently in Parliament to create a robust certification scheme for organic producers and extend country of origin food labeling to a wider range of food products.

The Greens would include a robust definition of “organic,” clarify that existing organic certifications are valid, and create an organic industry advisory group to oversee the legislation.

Shaw said the changes meant that people shopping knew they were buying the best local, sustainable produce.

Its policy also commits to:

• $ 30 million in financing over three years for community gardens and composting initiatives.

• Work with tangata whenua and within the framework of the Treaty of Waitangi to establish a resource lease on the commercial use of water.

• Ensuring that land use is diverse and sustainable by changing the rules around forestry and strengthening land use rules to protect high-quality agricultural land and soils.

“This is a bold transformation plan to ensure a just transition away from intensive agriculture, which will help us meet our obligations under the Zero Carbon Act and ensure that our grandchildren have a planet to live on,” said Shaw.

“By thinking ahead and acting now, New Zealand can have a prosperous and sustainable regenerative agriculture sector that ensures that we all have what we need and are protecting our precious environment.”