New greenhouse gas endorsement

New Zealand's agricultural industry is increasingly considering the challenges and opportunities of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme has introduced an additional endorsement for advisers on greenhouse gas mitigation.

The endorsement will be available to existing certified advisers who complete the three-day course, 'An introduction to New Zealand's Agricultural Green House Gas Emissions and Management', run through Massey University.

The course exposes practitioners to the latest information on greenhouse gas mitigation policy and research for pastoral and arable farming. The next course will be run in April.

"This is a key step for advisers in building their knowledge of greenhouse gas emissions as New Zealand moves towards zero carbon emissions," says Vera Power, Chief Executive of the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand, which administers the Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme (NMACP).

"We encourage all Certified Nutrient Management Advisers to complete this certificate.

"Agricultural emissions are significant for New Zealand, so it's vital that New Zealand farmers understand how to manage greenhouse gas emissions responsibly and sustainably.

"Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions will be challenging. Options might include off-setting, managing system efficiency, new technologies and farm system change. Farmers who receive advice from greenhouse gas endorsed advisers, equipped with the latest knowledge about climate change mitigations, can feel more confident about their decisions."

The greenhouse gas endorsement has been established with financial support from DairyNZ.