Agri-Food Field Notes September 2024

The European Commission (EU) warns that the development of a vaccine to eradicate African swine fever, which continues to threaten pig farming, remains difficult.

The outbreak in Italy, along with the struggles to develop a vaccine at the EU level, has prompted transport restrictions and culling measures to contain the spread of the disease.

• Lamb and beef prices have quickly increased to levels well above seasonal averages due to a shortage of finished livestock. In the last month, procurement pressures have caused increases in lamb slaughter prices of 40- 45c per kg and cattle slaughter prices of 25-75c per kg
• New Zealand Cabinet has decided to opt out of the joint Australia-New Zealand standards on infant formula labelling after their review request was denied. The standard restricts the amount of promotional material on packaging. Instead, New Zealand will implement its own standard over the next five years.
• A new nutrient management decision making tool was launched for the vegetable farming industry. The Sustainable Vegetable Systems tool integrates nitrogen planning with soil testing to provide growers with real-time data to help meet sustainability and regulatory requirements.
• Northland's port company is appealing a decision to refuse consent for a major expansion. The 12-hectare reclamation and 250-metre wharf extension were rejected due to adverse effects on the cultural values of tāngata whenua and the impact on public access to the coast. 

• The American government has announced a US $7.3 billion (NZ $12 billion) investment in 16 rural electric cooperatives, marking the largest federal investment in rural electrification. The initiative will generate 10 gigawatts of clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43.7 million tonnes annually, providing cleaner and more affordable energy to around 5 million rural households, farms, and businesses.

The Common Ground – A place to solve food & fibre’s wicked problems
[10 September]

Earlier this week, AGMARDT and KPMG released The Common Ground – a proposed collaboration platform concept to drive trust and collaborative behaviour across the food & fibre industry good system. Based on the collaborative thought leadership report “Are Industry Good Organisations Good for Industry?” - the proposal is intended to stimulate debate about how we set-up future generations to solve ‘wicked’ problems and realise opportunities collectively. It explores the key constraints of the status quo system and offers The Common Ground – a platform concept to limit duplication, form Communities of Action on sector-wide issues and embed trust and collaboration in the sector for generations to come. Please visit “The Common Ground: website to learn more and download the full report.

Scrutiny of Meat Labels Like Grass-Fed Misses Green Expectations
[5 September, Bloomberg Law]

The United States Department of Agriculture has issued new guidance for terms like "grass-fed" and "free-range" in meat and poultry marketing. They are emphasising the need for robust documentation and third-party certifications to support environmental and animal-raising claims. The guidance aims to ensure transparency in labelling and to maintain consumer trust. Sustainability activists are not satisfied, expressing concerns about potential greenwashing and the need for clearer guidance. There is also debate about the effectiveness of third-party certifiers and their ability to ensure sustainability and animal welfare