Unique partnership to enhance soil health

Regenerative Agriculture
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Helping farmers to make a difference

New research on farms across New Zealand will measure and provide farmers tools to enhance soil health, including identifying where regenerative agriculture practices can make a difference.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor today announced a unique partnership between food producers Synlait Milk and Danone, science provider AgResearch, and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. The project will study soil health on 10 farms in Waikato, Canterbury and Otago over five years, to determine the impacts of changes in soil health on production, farm resilience and the environment, including climate change.

Soils underpin New Zealand’s food and fibre sector and managing for healthy soils improves the natural capacity of soil to sustain plants, animals, and humans. However, assessment of soil health on farms is not routinely measured in New Zealand, and so practical tools are needed to help farmers understand the detailed state of the soils and how best to manage them. As well as on-farm production and performance, improved soil health is expected to benefit the wider environment with improved fresh water and nutrient outcomes, support for biodiversity, enhanced soil carbon storage and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Two paddocks on each of the 10 farms will be dedicated to a comparison between conventional practices and regenerative practices, focusing on greater pasture diversity and reduced nitrogen fertiliser use. The findings will help respond to a need for evidence that regenerative practices can make a positive difference in sustainable food production.

 

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Soil health project to test different practices on dairy farms
Regenerative Agriculture
02
Healthy soils to sustain plants, animals and humans

Soils underpin New Zealand’s food and fibre sector and managing for healthy soils improves the natural capacity of soil to sustain plants, animals, and humans. However, assessment of soil health on farms is not routinely measured in New Zealand, and so practical tools are needed to help farmers understand the detailed state of the soils and how best to manage them. As well as on-farm production and performance, improved soil health is expected to benefit the wider environment with improved fresh water and nutrient outcomes, support for biodiversity, enhanced soil carbon storage and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Two paddocks on each of the 10 farms will be dedicated to a comparison between conventional practices and regenerative practices, focusing on greater pasture diversity and reduced nitrogen fertiliser use. The findings will help respond to a need for evidence that regenerative practices can make a positive difference in sustainable food production.

Regenerative Agriculture
03
Ensuring a sustainable, productive agricultural industry

Through the course of the research, the farmers involved – supported by AgResearch scientists – will do sampling, testing, and modelling to assess the changes in soil health and its implications.

“A focus on soil health will be a key part of our industry’s journey to keep making milk in the most sustainable way. We are proud to have six Synlait farmers working alongside their industry peers to innovate, experiment, and lead our sector to explore the benefits of regenerative practices,” says Hamish Reid, Synlait Director – Sustainability, Brand, Beverages and Cream.

“Ultimately, we want to support farmers and provide solid guidance based on scientific evidence,” says Danone New Zealand Director, Steve Donnelly.

“We are proud to leverage Danone’s significant global expertise in regenerative agriculture to support new on-farm practices in New Zealand and across the dairy sector. This project is a pioneering step in Aotearoa to build new farming models that help mitigate climate change, preserve or restore soil quality and secure farmer welfare, all while preserving the quality of New Zealand dairy.”

Research already done by AgResearch, and commissioned by DairyNZ, has demonstrated that New Zealand has the lowest carbon footprint for milk production compared to 17 other countries, including major milk suppliers. However, the dairy industry is still striving to identify areas where it can make further environmental gains.

Regenerative Agriculture
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Understanding the soil health across New Zealand

AgResearch soil scientist Nicole Schon says the research will provide important scientific knowledge around soil health in the New Zealand context.

“This is a five-year study with the aim to provide information for farmers throughout New Zealand on how to measure soil health and how we can better manage our soils. By optimising the soils’ ability to function, it may help meet increasing constraints faced by the industry.”

“There is a lot of anecdotal evidence around the impacts of regenerative practices, and there is a lot of discussion on this topic. Part of the research will look at how regenerative practices impacts soil health, and I think it will be particularly interesting to understand the impact on the soil biology and its functioning,” Dr Schon says.

Dr Nicole Schon

It will be particularly interesting to understand the impact on the soil biology and its functioning,

Dr Nicole Schon
Regenerative Agriculture
05
Funding from government and industry

The Government has committed $2.8 million to the research through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, with Danone and Synlait contributing a further $1 million. AgResearch will independently gather data and report findings of the research.

Some initial assessments of soil health have been conducted, and the trials on the 10 dairy farms involved are expected to begin early in 2022. Results will be made available from the research.

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