More scientists needed to fight global warming

More scientists needed to fight global warming

14 May 2007

If New Zealand is to achieve the Government’s stated aim of becoming a carbon neutral economy, it will need many more scientists investigating ways of reducing the carbon footprint of agriculture and other economic activities in this country, says AgResearch Chief Executive Dr Andrew West.

“At AgResearch we know the need for more scientists is pressing so we are, for the first time, on the same day opening the doors to three of our campuses to secondary school students around the country to encourage them to consider a career in agricultural science.”

As part of the Workchoice Trust’s annual Workchoice Day AgResearch will be opening its doors at the Ruakura, Lincoln and Invermay campuses on May 15.

Students will get the chance to find out about the diverse, stimulating and rewarding career opportunities that are available to them in the area of agricultural science. They will get the chance to meet scientists, ask them questions and view facilities and equipment like mass-spectrometers and electron microscopes.

Dr West says that while agricultural production accounts for around half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, there is potential to significantly lower these levels through innovative science and technology.

“We are already doing a lot of work on technologies like nitrification inhibitors and reducing run-off from farms as well as better understanding the rumen but if we are to meet some of the targets set out by the Government we need to do a lot more. Without new scientists coming through the system we have no hope of achieving these long term goals. And we need to, because agriculture is going to make New Zealand a lot of extra money in years to come.”

AgResearch Textile Science and Technology Section Manager Dr Peter Ingham says that such work will take on increased significance in the years to come.

“Despite predictions that New Zealand’s economy will change its focus more towards sectors like information technology and film-making, the agricultural sector’s productivity has grown almost twice as fast as the economy as a whole over the last 20 years,” says Dr Ingham.

As developing countries like India and China become greater consumers of high protein foods like meat and diary products, and land in the US formerly grazed by ruminants is put into bio-fuel production, the demand for high quality New Zealand agriculture products looks set to increase, he says.

“We need scientists not only to help the agricultural sector increase production to meet this demand but also to ensure this expansion is environmentally sustainable.”

Already it is clear that even without the pressures of global warming and increased demand for our products, New Zealand still needs to train more scientists, says Dr Andrew West.

Approximately 7,100 scientists, research engineers and technicians will be needed in the next 20 years just to keep the scientific and technical workforce at its current level.

“Now is an exciting time to be a scientist, particularly in the agricultural sector. At the Workchoice Day we will be doing our best to outline some of the significant opportunities available to school students should they embark on a challenging and rewarding career in agricultural science.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media