Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) is pressing the Government to integrate the horticulture sector within its upcoming Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP2), which is set to outline emissions reduction actions from 2026 to 2030. Despite the sector's relevance, the current draft does not address horticulture, fruits, or vegetables. "It is concerning that the Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP2) overlooks horticulture entirely," expressed Michelle Sands, acting chief executive of HortNZ.
Sands highlighted the sector's role in achieving emissions reduction targets and advocated for supporting land-use change towards horticulture as a strategic solution for New Zealand. She pointed out that horticulture is a low-emissions land use, contributing $7.48 billion in value from less than 0.1% of New Zealand's land area and accounting for only 1.1% of national greenhouse gas emissions.
HortNZ is advocating for ERP2 to include policies that support the transition to horticulture, emphasizing the importance of diversification and the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables under the Resource Management Act (RMA) and future legislation. The organization also calls for a national framework for commercial vegetable production to mitigate regional regulatory challenges and for the establishment of a fund to reinvest Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) proceeds into greenhouse decarbonisation, following the disestablishment of the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) Fund.
With an aim to double the horticulture sector's value by 2035, HortNZ urges the government to align its emissions reduction strategy with the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan, a collaborative strategy involving government, industry, science, and Māori. Representing over 4,500 commercial fruit and vegetable growers, HortNZ emphasizes the sector's impact, supporting over 40,000 jobs and producing around 100 different fruit and vegetables.
Source: Horticulture New Zealand