SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
In May 1991, just before passage of the Resource Management Act, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries released a discussion paper entitled "Sustainable Agriculture: A Policy Proposal" and invited comments from the public. In all, 84 written submissions were received from farming and land user groups, government departments and local authorities, agribusiness, scientists, environmental groups, and a number of individuals. An international conference on sustainable land management was held in Napier in November 1991, organised by the Hawkes Bay Regional Council. Additional discussions have been held informally with a number of parties.
Government has considered this paper, and has adopted it as the basis for the next step, involving action by MAF, the agricultural sector and wider public. MAF will now start working through the issues and opportunities with local, regional and national stakeholders, building on a philosophy of "landcare."
Synopsis
Caring for the land is a central objective of farmers and all land users.
Consumers worldwide are increasingly concerned about the effects of some farming systems on the environment. These concerns provide opportunities for New Zealand to position our products as coming from a high quality, more sustainable, farm environment. But to capitalise on this opportunity, and to protect the land resource for our children, we need to address today the land use issues facing us tomorrow.
Soil erosion, weeds and pests, and water pollution are some of the physical threats to agriculture, now and for future viability. In addition to these threats, there are a range of economic, social and institutional issues to be addressed.
These and other concerns were a major reason for the passage of the Resource Management Act 1991, which is intended to promote the sustainable management of our natural resources. The Act provides an opportunity for New Zealand products to lead the way in a competitive world market where environmental aspects of products are coming under increasing scrutiny.
New initiatives are needed to address these emerging issues and opportunities. The overall aim is to work with farmers and communities to define their long term goals for managing the resource base and to identify what various parties can contribute to achieving those goals.
This paper sets out Government's position on sustainable agriculture and the landcare approach, and describes what the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) will do to support these initiatives.
Within the framework of sustainable land management, sustainable agriculture is defined as the use of farming practices which maintain or improve the natural resource base of agriculture, and any parts of the environment influenced by agriculture. Sustainability also requires that agriculture is profitable; that the quality and safety of the food, fibre and other agricultural products are maintained; and that people and communities are able to provide for their social and cultural well-being.
Landcare is the stewardship of agriculture's natural resource base by farmers, together with all who are involved in agriculture, in a way that enables present and future generations of New Zealanders to meet their needs.
In developing policies which promote sustainable agriculture through landcare, Government recognises that:
- landcare needs to be built on community values, working to find solutions through individual and community action;
- most New Zealand farmers have a strong stewardship ethic and want to manage their resources in a sustainable way, even though financial pressures and a lack of practical solutions may prevent them doing so;
- the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi need to be taken into account when making decisions about land and water resources.
MAF's role is to help New Zealanders derive the maximum long term benefit from the resource base for agriculture. In this role, MAF will:
- work with landholders, communities, and local government to encourage landcare initiatives and to realise new marketing opportunities; and
- assist the development of techniques for assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems, including methods farmers can use themselves to strengthen their farms' long term economic viability;
- provide advice to Government on policies which promote landcare and sustainable agriculture.
MAF is also responsible for policies to maintain or improve New Zealand's agricultural competitiveness, protect New Zealand from introduced pests and diseases, provide food products which are safe for both domestic and overseas consumers, and improve agriculture's access to markets in other countries.
In further developing this policy, MAF will facilitate discussions at the national, regional and local level to identify specific issues for the dairy sector, for horticulture, for sheep and beef farmers and other sectors, and to identify what needs to be done to help stakeholders address those issues and realise new opportunities.
1.1 The Need for a Policy Position:
There is growing national and international concern about the loss of natural resources as a consequence of human activities. Soil erosion, water pollution, pesticide residues, deforestation, and global climate change are some of the perceived threats to the life-sustaining capacity of the environment.
As a result, consumers here and overseas are becoming more interested in the effects of some farming systems on the environment.
These concerns are reflected in the Resource Management Act 1991 which promotes sustainable management of natural and physical resources. The Act provides New Zealand agriculture with an opportunity to address these issues and, by doing so, to lead the way in a competitive world market.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) published a discussion paper on sustainable agriculture in May 1991 to initiate a Ministry position on sustainable agriculture. This position paper aims to help achieve one of the Minister's outcomes defined in the MAF Corporate Contract (1992/93):
"Benefit to all New Zealanders from the resource base for agriculture being used in the most productive and sustainable way."
The present paper incorporates the comments MAF received in response to this discussion paper (see appendices 1, 2 and 3). This paper aims to clarify the concept of sustainability as applied to agriculture, and to provide an operating framework for MAF staff. It is also seen as a vehicle for communicating MAF's perception of the need for policies on sustainable agriculture and its response to this need.
This position paper is only one component, representing Government's role, in what will need to be a national effort to achieve sustainable agriculture. Government cannot address the wide range of issues alone, and will need to seek the agreement and co-operation of farmers and all those with an interest in the land.
1.2 The Scope of this Position Paper
Agriculture contributes 14 per cent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), and provides employment to 19 per cent of the nation's workforce. Agricultural products contribute approximately 60 per cent of export income. Policy proposals on sustainable agriculture must recognise this contribution to the New Zealand economy.
Throughout this paper the term agriculture is used in a sense that includes horticulture as well as input suppliers and the processing and marketing sectors. Within the boundaries set by property rights, agriculture is one of a number of land uses which include agroforestry, forestry, conservation and recreation. The position is not, however, confined to physical and financial aspects of farm management. Agriculture also operates within the context of cultural values, including those Maori values encompassing land and water. The farm's human resources, the people who practice farm management, receive important consideration.
In specific parts of New Zealand current land management practices are unsustainable in the long term, and other potential problem areas require further research and debate. MAF's response is to act as an advocate for sustainable management practices in the agricultural sector and to help facilitate changes that are needed by building on a philosophy of "landcare".
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
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PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
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