Current actions
The greenhouse gas actions listed on this page have been verified by science and are available to farmers now.
These actions have been comprehensively researched under New Zealand conditions and there's scientifically robust data available that demonstrates they can reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions. They're also captured in New Zealand's greenhouse gas inventory - the national system used for reporting emissions and mitigations.
Many farmers are already implementing these actions. They won't necessarily work in all farm systems, and the emissions reductions achieved will vary from farm to farm. However, even though they may only lead to small reductions, they add up. They can also make a difference for other farm objectives, e.g. freshwater.
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Rebalancing stocking rate and individual animal performance
Modelling shows it might be possible to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10% on some farms, by fine-tuning production systems so the same output is obtained from fewer animals.
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Nitrogen fertiliser
Reducing the use of nitrogen fertiliser is a measurable way of reducing the amount of nitrogen available in the soil to be transformed into nitrous oxide.
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Low-emission feeds
Some supplementary feeds reduce methane emissions per unit of feed intake, while others help reduce nitrous oxide emissions by decreasing the amount of nitrogen excreted onto pastures.
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Trees and vegetation
There are many benefits from planting trees or restoring woody vegetation on a farm, including to help combat climate change by removing carbon dioxide. However, it's a complex topic.
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Resource efficiency
Managing resources efficiently can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Land use change
Changes in the way land is used can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Published: June 27, 2023