posted on 2024-09-05, 02:50authored byAllanah Robinson
New Zealand's livestock sectors are reliant on imported grain and PKE. Recently completed research asks whether growing more grain in New Zealand is a viable approach to reduce risk associated with reliance on imported grain, and comes with wider benefits to farming systems.
The comprehensive report from AgFirst modelled a range of scenarios with different yield, cost, livestock, and supply situations to review the effects of converting a proportion of pasture into supplementary feed grain crops. They found potential positive impacts for farm profitability, greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen leaching.
Funding
Funded by the New Zealand Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment’s Our Land and Water National Science Challenge (Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai), as part of the project Impact of Imported Feed Shortages