Latest news with #MethaneScienceAccord
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Cure Worse Than The Cause?
'We are going down a dangerous and totally unnecessary road using bromoform', said Jane Smith, leading North Otago farmer and environmentalist. Jane is a co-founder of the Methane Science Accord that questions the promotion of methane-reducing products containing tribromomethane (bromoform) — a chemical compound found in seaweed and chlorinated water — now set to be unleashed on pastoral farming. Bromoform is ozone-depleting, classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC), and in some jurisdictions like the USA, is banned from use in livestock destined for human consumption. Here in New Zealand, these products are restricted from use in breeding or dairy cattle. The Methane Science Accord has fears around food safety, questions about animal welfare, and doubts that such intensive, expensive interference in the natural biogenic rumination process is either necessary or justified. 'The mere fact it has been suggested these products be used only on prime stock destined for slaughter, and not on lactating or reproducing animals, is concerning in itself,' says Smith. A slow-release methane-reducing bolus developed by Ruminant BioTech and backed by AgriZero, (a joint taxpayer-industry venture) reportedly show methane reductions of up to 70 percent over 100 days. Ruminant BioTech's other investors include Rosrain Investments and NZ Green Investment Finance (a government-backed fund set to be shut down). One product, called Emitless, is designed for cattle weighing between 350 and 450 kilograms. A second product, Calm A Cattle Bolus, aims to reduce methane emissions for up to four months. These contain a halogenated methane analogue (three bromines replacing hydrogens on methane). It has strong anti-methanogenic properties and inhibits methane production by interfering with enzymes in methanogenic archaea in the rumen (particularly methyl-coenzyme M reductase). The Environmental Protection Authority said the active ingredient fits within existing veterinary standards and does not require individual approval under hazardous substance law, however the product still awaits sign-off under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act. The Methane Science Accord states that not only is the cost of these is unknown but there is no measurable benefit to global climate temperatures and the return on investment is far outweighed by a myriad of risks. 'Having to round up stock every 120 days to force a bolus down their throat raises serious issues around safety for our farmers, particularly as there is absolutely no calculable gain to be achieved by this proposal', states Jane Smith. Methane Science Accord (MSA) co-founder Owen Jennings questions 'Why would we interfere with the natural biogenic process of rumination, why would we risk our naturally pasture-raised global status, why would we add further stress, risk and cost to our farmers and their livestock?' AgriZero CEO Wayne McNee admits 'farmers will need financial incentives to adopt them'. Smith suggests 'there are a lot people set to make a lot of money out of selling methane mitigation pills and potions into our sector, at the cost to the taxpayer, farmers and the risk to our naturally-raised livestock status. I'm assuming this is a knee-jerk reaction to justify the millions of taxpayer and ag sector dollars that have been squandered so far on these products.'. 'The lack of public transparency around safety, testing and environmental modeling is concerning not only for the farmers themselves but our sensitive global markets such as the EU don't even allow for grain-feeding. The cure is certainly worse than the cause'. A survey carried out by NZ Farming, The Methane Science Accord and Groundswell in May 2025 showed that 95% of the 1460 farmer responses would not use methane mitigation boluses, vaccines or feed additives in their livestock.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Listen to The Country: Budget 2025 with Labour leader Chris Hipkins
Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay today. Photo / Mark Mitchell Today on The Country radio show, host Jamie Mackay catches up with Labour leader Chris Hipkins to ask him what his Budget would look like, and where his party's agriculture policy is. On with the show: Wayne Langford: The president of Federated Farmers on the love-in with Labour. Plus, he talks about the battle with Groundswell, NZ Farming and the Methane Science Accord.
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Listen to The Country: Wilding pines with Queenstown farmer Grant McMaster
Queenstown farmer Grant "Disaster" McMaster told Jamie Mackay he's not a fan of wilding pines on today's show. Photo / Alan Gibson Today on The Country radio show, host Jamie Mackay catches up with Grant 'Disaster' McMaster, a Queenstown farmer who is no fan of wilding pines. Mackay asks him if there's merit in leaving the pines where they are to sequester carbon. On with the show: Andrew Hoggard and Grant McCallum: Today's farmer/politician panel ponders the methane survey conducted by Groundswell, NZ Farming and the Methane Science Accord.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ Farmers Slam Methane Madness: 95% Reject Biotech Fix For Livestock
Press Release – NZ Farming Farmers are alarmed that unproven biotech tools threaten New Zealands hard- earned reputation for natural, pasture-raised meat and milk. They see methane inhibitors as risky, intrusive and unnecessarynot just to animal welfare, but to consumer … A major new independent farmer survey reveals overwhelming rejection of New Zealand's current ruminant methane strategy, exposing a deep disconnect between grassroots producers and industry leadership. Key findings: 95% agree reducing livestock methane won't impact global climate change 94% of farmers believe methane cuts should not be a necessary part of market access 93% refuse to use methane inhibitors on their animals 88% wouldn't eat meat or dairy from treated stock Farmers are alarmed that unproven biotech tools threaten New Zealand's hard- earned reputation for natural, pasture-raised meat and milk. They see methane inhibitors as risky, intrusive and unnecessary—not just to animal welfare, but to consumer trust and export advantage. 'There is growing unease about manipulating the gut microbiome of healthy animals. These interventions go against everything our farming systems stand for,' says Duncan Humm of NZ Farming. 'How did we get this far down the track without consulting the very people expected to deliver these changes?' Despite being global leaders in low-emissions food production, farmers feel ignored as unelected boards and bureaucrats push policies without a grassroots mandate. Farmers are now demanding answers: Why were hundreds of millions of dollars spent on methane tools without farmer consultation? Where's the 'farmer' support the industry claims exists? Why did co-ops join AgriZero without asking shareholders? If farmers and consumers don't want these tools, who are they really for—and is compulsion the endgame? Why are our levy bodies so out of touch? The message is clear: Leave our animals alone. Helen Mandeno of Methane Science Accord states: 'Professor David Frame has shown that New Zealand's ruminants might, at worst, contribute four millionths of a degree celsius warming per year. It would take 250,000 years for that to amount to 1 °C.' Ruminant methane is a natural part of the carbon cycle—don't punish farmers and their animals for a crime they didn't commit.
Scoop
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ Farmers Slam Methane Madness: 95% Reject Biotech Fix For Livestock
Press Release – NZ Farming Farmers are alarmed that unproven biotech tools threaten New Zealands hard- earned reputation for natural, pasture-raised meat and milk. They see methane inhibitors as risky, intrusive and unnecessarynot just to animal welfare, but to consumer … A major new independent farmer survey reveals overwhelming rejection of New Zealand's current ruminant methane strategy, exposing a deep disconnect between grassroots producers and industry leadership. Key findings: 95% agree reducing livestock methane won't impact global climate change 94% of farmers believe methane cuts should not be a necessary part of market access 93% refuse to use methane inhibitors on their animals 88% wouldn't eat meat or dairy from treated stock Farmers are alarmed that unproven biotech tools threaten New Zealand's hard- earned reputation for natural, pasture-raised meat and milk. They see methane inhibitors as risky, intrusive and unnecessary—not just to animal welfare, but to consumer trust and export advantage. 'There is growing unease about manipulating the gut microbiome of healthy animals. These interventions go against everything our farming systems stand for,' says Duncan Humm of NZ Farming. 'How did we get this far down the track without consulting the very people expected to deliver these changes?' Despite being global leaders in low-emissions food production, farmers feel ignored as unelected boards and bureaucrats push policies without a grassroots mandate. Farmers are now demanding answers: Why were hundreds of millions of dollars spent on methane tools without farmer consultation? Where's the 'farmer' support the industry claims exists? Why did co-ops join AgriZero without asking shareholders? If farmers and consumers don't want these tools, who are they really for—and is compulsion the endgame? Why are our levy bodies so out of touch? The message is clear: Leave our animals alone. Helen Mandeno of Methane Science Accord states: 'Professor David Frame has shown that New Zealand's ruminants might, at worst, contribute four millionths of a degree celsius warming per year. It would take 250,000 years for that to amount to 1 °C.' Ruminant methane is a natural part of the carbon cycle—don't punish farmers and their animals for a crime they didn't commit.
