Fertiliser Industry Environmental initiatives
October 3 2011
MEDIA RELEASE
Fertiliser Industry
Environmental initiatives
The Fertiliser Quality
Council (FQC) is pleased that the fertiliser industry is
investing considerable amounts on research to lower our
environmental footprint. It will be great for farmers and
the environment.
The FQC congratulates Ballance Agri-Nutrients and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Primary Growth Partnership for committing $32 million to support the research.
"At a time when margins are suffering, anything that will reduce a farmer's inputs has to be good," FQC chair, Neil Barton said. "In addition anything that we can do to preserve the environment is vital.
"Fertiliser is the biggest single expense next to interest repayments on the average farm. Anything that can be done to reduce that is good for agriculture and the country as a whole.
"No-one would argue that we must grow our economy if we are to survive and prosper. To be able to achieve that while minimizing our environmental footprint is a huge step forward.
"To research how farmers will be able to produce more with less is the way of the future and shows the responsible environmental conscience of our ethical fertiliser industry. Both Ballance and Ravensdown are 100% farmer owned co-operatives, between them they sell 95% of New Zealand's ethical fertilisers and both have invested an incredible amount of time and money working to reduce the environmental footprint New Zealand has.
"They are to be congratulated for their commitment," Neil Barton said.
ends