8. COLIN KING (National—Kaikōura) Link to this
to the Minister of Agriculture
What recent steps has the Government taken to progress international research into agricultural emissions and food security?
Hon DAVID CARTER (Minister of Agriculture) Link to this
Recently Tim Groser and I attended the inaugural ministerial summit of the New Zealand - led Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases in Rome. The summit was a resounding success, with 36 countries signing up to the alliance and its aims of bringing together countries to work on solutions to reduce agricultural emissions whilst producing more food. The success of the alliance and its endorsement by countries such as Brazil, China, and the United States is a significant coup for New Zealand, and shows that this Government is serious about taking practical steps to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions without crippling our vital food-producing sector.
What further support has New Zealand provided to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases?
At the ministerial summit I was pleased to announce that New Zealand will establish a $25 million international fund to support research on mitigating agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The fund is aimed at bold research efforts that must have people working across disciplines and across borders, but must include a New Zealand partner.
Why has the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases received such a high level of international support?
There is clear international consensus that the two biggest challenges to face the world are food security and climate change. The Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases squarely addresses both of these challenges through its voluntary, pragmatic nature and its focus on scientists, not politicians. That is why 36 countries from France to South Africa, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Korea are strongly supportive. All of them praise New Zealand’s leadership in turning the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases into a reality.