Source: Federated Farmers
The Green Party is putting politics ahead of practicality and science with its freshwater policy, Federated Farmers freshwater spokesperson Mark Hooper says.
“The Greens’ plan to phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser would significantly hike the cost of food for Kiwi families.
“It’s a completely mad idea.
“It’s estimated global food production would fall by about 50% without modern fertilisers. With over 60% of New Zealand’s exports coming from agriculture, taking fertiliser off farmers would be economic suicide,” Hooper says.
Multiple surveys show the cost of living is the number one issue for New Zealanders, and if our farmers and growers can’t use synthetic fertilisers to grow grass for livestock, and vegetables for human consumption, higher food prices in supermarkets are inevitable.
“In a 2024 study, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research found that putting the squeeze on farmers’ use of nitrogen via proposed tougher regulation could send the price of broccoli as high as $9 a head.
“The Greens are putting ideology ahead of common sense with this kind of daft idea,” Hooper says.
Another plank of party’s policy announced today, based off its own interpretation of overseas research, is a call for lowering nitrate limits for drinking water.
“This is a steal from the Greenpeace playbook and is counter to advice from the Ministry of Health, Bowel Cancer NZ and the World Health Organisation.
“Federated Farmers has said time and again that when it comes to what chemicals are safe, what causes cancer, what medicines are safe, decisions need to be made through science-technical processes, not political announcements.
“If the Ministry of Health changes its advice on the link between nitrates and cancer, then of course we would welcome any change in drinking water standards,” Hooper says.
“The Green Party making such an announcement without that health advice risks simply creating confusion and panic in rural communities.”
Hooper says farmers are working hard to lift water quality and further lighten their environmental footprint. In the interests of Kiwi families any new freshwater policy needs to be based off sound scientific evidence or risks simply creating economic pain and pushing up the price of food for no good reason.