“Many of our major export customers expect progress on emissions reductions across their supply chains, through to New Zealand farms,” he said.
“If we want to maintain New Zealand’s competitive advantage and reputation as a trusted supplier of premium food products to discerning customers around the world, we’d be wise to listen to them.
“This is too big for any one organisation to solve alone, and the collaborative support behind AgriZero NZ shows our partners’ determination to get on with the job.”
Hewett said getting tools into farmers’ hands was critical to this, adding there would be tools available by 2030.
“There should be one to two products each year becoming available between now and 2030.
“By 2030, I would expect the farmers will have five to six products to choose from, depending on their farming system.”
The first AgriZeroNZ-backed tool likely to become available to farmers is a methane-inhibiting bolus developed by Kiwi company Ruminant Biotech, currently undergoing regulatory approval.
Hewett said some of the technologies might be “stackable”, offering greater emissions reductions and possibly even improved productivity on farm.
“We also want to have a portfolio of products so that farmers not only have choice for what’s right for them but also potentially stack products on top of each other.
“We could conceivably have a seed treatment solution that means the grasses the animals consume produce less methane, eaten by an animal that may have a bolus or vaccine to reduce the methanogens in the rumen, which may well be wearing a wearable that can deal with nitrous oxide as well”
Hewett said the new partnerships would also help with supply chains and making these tools available to farmers.
AgriZero chief executive Wayne McNee said the additional funding would give it the capital to build on the momentum achieved so far.
“We’re backing some of the world’s best innovators and scientists, and they need sustained support to get these new technologies through development, testing and approvals so farmers can trust they’re proven, safe and effective.
“Not every technology we invest in will succeed; that’s the reality of innovation.
“But we’re optimistic that, with continued investment and focus, New Zealand farmers will have a range of tools to choose from by 2030.”
Since being established in 2023, AgriZero has invested more than $80m across 21 projects to develop tools for reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions, including inhibitors, probiotics, genetics, pasture, vaccines and wearables.