Feeding the world’s growing population

New Zealand’s reputation as a quality food producer is growing.

Optimising food production

Over the next 50 years farmers around the world will need to produce more food than has been grown over the past 10,000 years.

Best use from a limited resource

Fertiliser helps farmers produce food efficiently by replenishing the soil. But fertiliser needs to be used responsibly.

Responsible and sustainable nutrient management

The Fertiliser Association invests in research and tools to ensure farm profitability while minimising nutrient losses to the environment.

The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand promotes and encourages responsible and scientifically-based nutrient management.

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Submissions

The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand regularly makes submissions on issues related to the fertiliser industry.

Natural and Built Environment Bill

29 January 2023

Our first submission of 2023 was on the Natural and Built Environment Bill, to the Environment Select Committee. 

We focused on the provisions relating to soils in the Bill in the context that farming and food production are critically dependent on New Zealand's soils, both now and for the future.

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Pricing agricultural emissions

19 November 2022

 We made a submission to the Ministry for the Environment on Te tātai utu o ngā tukunga ahuwhenu - Pricing agricultural emissions.

Our submission outlines why the Association strongly supports the pricing mechanism as originally outlined in the He Waka Eka Noa partnership proposal. The proposal provides a path forward for managing agricultural emissions, while recognising the importance of our primary exports to the New Zealand economy.

We also detail why we support a farm-level levy system which includes nitrogen fertiliser; and oppose an interim processor-level levy in 2025. 

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Exposure Draft of Amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020

9 July 2022

Our submission to the Ministry for the Environment on Exposure Draft of Amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 was generally supportive of the proposed technical amendments.  The exception was the clause relating to a specific focus on managing nutrients to achieve on-farm outcomes.

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Draft ACVM Notice

9 July 2022

 

Fertiliser Association of New Zealand submitted to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on the Draft Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Notice.  We were generally supportive of the proposal for improved clarity on requirements but outlined some concerns.  Our submission focused on fertilisers rather than soil conditioners or biostimulants.

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Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand

30 March 2022

We submitted to Taumata Arowai, the new water services regulator for Aotearoa New Zealand, on Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand (Draft) 20 December 2021. Our submission exclusively addressed the Drinking Water Standard for nitrate.

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Transitioning to a low-emissions and climate-resilient future

29 November 2021

Fertiliser Association of New Zealand submitted to the Ministry for the Environment on Te hau mārohi ki anamata - Transitioning to a low-emissions and climate-resilient future.  Submissions will help to shape the Ministry's emissions reduction plan.

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Freshwater Farm Plan Regulations

1 November 2021

We submitted to the Ministry for the Environment on its Freshwater Farm Plan Regulations Discussion Document.  Our submission called for clear long-term direction in regulation for freshwater management to ensure confidence in business investment for both production and environmental targets.  

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FANZ Submission to Environment Select Committee on Greenpeace Petition

6 October 2021

We submitted evidence to the Environment Select Committee on proposals to ban nitrogen fertiliser. Our submission outlines the importance and role that nitrogen fertiliser plays in food production in New Zealand.

Download

FANZ submission on Exposure Draft Natural Built Environments Bill

4 August 2021

FANZ has made a submission on the Exposure Draft Natural and Built Environments Bill to the New Zealand Parliament Environment Committee.

Download

FANZ Submission on Climate Change Commission Draft Advice

31 March 2021

FANZ has provided a submission on the the Climate Change Commission's draft advice to government. We support the overall approach they have taken and valued the opportunity to scrutinise the data behind the Climate Change Commission's analysis. Our submission focuses on the policies to support emissions reductions from the agricultural sector, as this is the area in which we consider that we can make the most contribution.

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The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand and Dairy NZ funded development of the Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme (NMACP). This industry-wide certification aims to ensure that advisers have the learning, experience and capability to give sound nutrient advice.

Find out more

15 March 2023

The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand has published a revised and updated Code of Practice for fertiliser nutrient management, replacing the previous version published in 2013.

The Code was launched at an event in Wellington on 13 March 2023, attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon Damien O’Connor.

Minister O’Connor welcomed the publication of the Code, saying it was important good guidance is available for all farm inputs for farmers and the wider sector.

He described farming – producing food for communities and the world – as the most noble of professions. Farmers were dealing with challenges every day and providing them with tools and knowledge was important, he said.

The Code is a key resource tool for the management of nutrients on arable and pastoral farms, horticulture and viticulture blocks, and market gardens.

Association Chief Executive Vera Power says the revised Code provides clear principle-based guidance on supplying nutrients for growing healthy food and fibre.

“Following the Code provides users, regulatory authorities and markets confidence that the nutrients used in Aotearoa New Zealand primary production are managed in a way that minimises adverse environmental impacts,” says Dr Power.

“We believe all New Zealand farmers and growers want to meet societal and their own high expectations for growing healthy food while minimising environmental impacts. Supporting all our aspirations remains at the heart of the guidance provided by this Code.”

The revised Code has had extensive input from  agricultural and scientific experts, regulators and industry groups. It can be downloaded from the Association website at www.fertiliser.org.nz

7 September 2022

The 2022 AgriTechNZ Baseline of Digital Adoption in Primary Industries report was released in August.

Created as part of a study by AgriTechNZ and insights partner Research First, the report was co-designed with partners The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand, Zespri, The Foundation of Arable Research and DairyNZ. It was also supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries as part of the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures initiative (SFFF).

The 60-page report looks at digital adoption, including key drivers and barriers across the dairy, horticulture, arable and beef/sheep sectors.

You can download the report here.

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