The Following Are Submissions Made To The Government Regarding Our Products/Technology.
Submission #2 was made by Indigo Limited - Zest Biotech is a subsidiary of Indigo Limited.
Submission: Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
Summary:
We recommend the agricultural emissions reduction target is based on farm emissions intensity (kg of CO2 (equivalent) per unit of product) and on-farm efficiency. This target aligns with the recommendations of the IPCC/ FAO.
The model to measure, report and manage emissions intensity has been developed by the FAO (GLEAM). The model is compliant with IPCC Tier 2 methodology and ISO standards 14040 and 14044 (ISO, 2006).
This strategy also ensures the other global challenges - poverty alleviation and food security - are also addressed.
Agricultural emissions should be viewed as valuable resources that are currently being wasted (methane is energy lost and urea is protein lost (leading to nitrous oxide emissions)). If we can improve the efficiency of ruminant animals, we will produce more milk and meat and less waste (emissions).
We have the technology to reduce emissions intensity and increase ruminant efficiency. This means New Zealand can increase productivity (i.e. production of milk/meat) and achieve a gross reduction in emissions, thus ensuring economic gain while also complying with international standards, meeting market demands for ‘low carbon’ produce, and meeting our global food security obligations
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Submission: Low emissions economy - Biozest
Summary:
Indigo has developed a technology (Biozest) that will significantly reduce emissions from agriculture by increasing pasture fed milk and meat production. Biozest can be seamlessly integrated into New Zealand’s existing farming systems to reduce emissions and increase productivity.
Indigo has identified an acute inefficiency in the ruminant biological digestive system resulting in 75% of pasture protein being wasted as urea and methane. We have increased ruminant efficiency resulting in a 30% increase in milk and meat production. As a result of reducing this inefficiency we have proven the waste (urea and methane) can be reduced by up to 48%.
We are proposing a Public Private Partnership as a potential pathway to ensure New Zealand can benefit from this technology immediately.
This is a commerce based model that is risk averse. An opportunity based on proven technology. This is a model to increase New Zealand’s wealth, abate liabilities, capitalise on national and international benefits and sustain future technology development. We can be a wealthy country very quickly and consolidate our clean green and pasture-fed meat and milk brands.
We would like to ensure that technologies such as Biozest, which is available for use on farms right now, are objectively and independently assessed alongside other, previously proposed, solutions.
We want to ensure the agriculture sector is aware of the benefits of adopting low emissions technologies and we would like to provide evidence that will ensure the Productivity Commission’s report is able to debunk the myth that reducing emissions will cause economic harm.
We would also like to see a clear pathway for research, collaboration and implementation of emissions reduction technologies so that New Zealand can immediately benefit both environmentally and economically.
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3. Submission: Climate Action for Aotearoa, Climate Change Commission
Zest Biotech presents 7 key points which Zest Biotech believes the Climate Change Commission must consider and respond to if Aotearoa’s response to climate change, particularly biogenic emissions, is to move forward:
1.Consider modifying the Commission’s approach and guidance to reflect the international scientific consensus and FAO guidance.
2.Safeguard, embrace and promote our valuable pasture-fed brand.
3.Draw from knowledge gained by organic farmers: practices which produce lower emissions and increase carbon sequestration. This knowledge can be applied seamlessly in conventional farming systems.
4.Objectively reconsider the Biozest technology: a technology developed and manufactured in Aotearoa that can be used on organic, regenerative, and conventional farms, is safe to apply, has no residue issues, is approved by all relevant regulatory bodies and, by focusing on ruminant efficiency, increases productivity while reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Biozest is available and in use on farms in Aotearoa right now and farmers are already realising the benefits in terms of increased productivity.
5.Explore options to remove barriers which are blocking, or undermining technologies developed outside of our CRIs and PGgRc consortium members. Ensure all technologies brought to the attention of the commission are mentioned in the report and are accurately described and that the benefits/shortcomings are fully disclosed.
6.Develop pathways to ensure our farmers, our economy, and our environment benefit from homegrown technologies. Ensure that no commissioners have a conflict of interest that may prevent them from objectively considering all available technologies. Ensure that the Commission has/assembles the depth of knowledge to undertake peer review of all available mitigation options/technologies.
7.Consider Public Private Partnerships, often employed when a problem is large, urgent or difficult to overcome, to progress the development of mitigation technologies.
The balance of this report elaborates on each of these themes.