Research centre ‘well placed’ to help reduce farming emissions

Priority areas include breeding lower-emitting sheep and producing methane inhibitors, research director says

New Zealand’s research on the reduction of agricultural emissions is in line with the recent recommendations of the national Climate Change Commission, the research director of the country’s largest agricultural research centre has said—but progress could depend on the loosening of rules around genetic modification. 

AgResearch’s Trevor Stuthridge said the commission’s advice to the New Zealand government showed that “farmers have already made progress on reducing emissions, but more can be done in on-farm management practices in the shorter term. This is an area where our scientists are well placed to provide expert advice.”