A new free calculator to help sheep, beef and deer farmers calculate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sequestration is now available.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has developed the calculator with input from farmers and meat processing companies, as part of the red meat sector’s contribution to helping meet New Zealand’s climate change commitments.
“We’re committed to equipping farmers to know their numbers and have a written plan to manage emissions,” says Sam McIvor, B+LNZ Chief Executive.
“This will help farmers build resilient, future-proofed businesses, provide evidence to tell our farmer story and product story, and give our customers, and the public, confidence that we’re taking responsible action on climate change.”
The B+LNZ GHG Calculator is free and easy to use. It takes information about a farm and stock numbers and applies science and data about average emissions at national, regional and farm system level to calculate on-farm emissions and sequestration.
There’s a detailed user guide online, and B+LNZ will be helping farmers do their calculations as part of B+LNZ workshops. B+LNZ is also working with meat processors, farm advisors, accountants and others to share information about the calculator and how to use it.
Sam McIvor says supporting farmers to know their numbers is part of the He Waka Eke Noa programme, which is developing a practical framework to measure and manage emissions at farm level and recognise sequestration.
“Farmers must be recognised for the good work they are doing on farm.”
Meat Industry Association Chief Executive Sirma Karapeeva is strongly encouraging farmers to use the calculator.
“We support the He Waka Eke Noa programme because we believe that farmers are best placed to measure and manage their emissions – knowing and managing farm GHG emissions is critical for our future as a trusted provider of sustainable food. We have to front-foot this and show to the New Zealand public and our customers that we are serious about managing our impact on the climate.”
The calculator has been independently assessed as meeting the requirements for calculating emissions under the He Waka Eke Noa programme.
Sam McIvor says that while farmers can choose from a number of GHG calculators, the advantages of the B+LNZ tool are that it’s free and easy to use. The calculator has been funded by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP).
The calculator is available through the B+LNZ website. Farmers will log in so that their data is securely saved, and they can add information over time.
B+LNZ will report on the number of farmers using the calculator as part of its industry commitments but will not report on any individual farm’s GHG emissions total.
B+LNZ’s GHG Calculator is endorsed by the Meat Industry Association, AFFCO New Zealand, Alliance Group, ANZCO Foods, Blue Sky Meats, Greenlea Premier Meats, Ovation New Zealand, Progressive Meats, Silver Fern Farms, Taylor Preston, Te Kuiti Meats, Universal Beef Packers, and Wilson Hellaby NZ.
To find out more about the B+LNZ GHG Calculator go to: https://beeflambnz.com/ghg-calculator-info