HortNZ is backing the government’s decision to pause the Freshwater Farm Plan rollout.
HortNZ acting chief executive Michelle Sands said they agree that the country needs a fit-for-purpose system for Freshwater Farm Plans (FWFPs) that works for horticulture and delivers on environmental outcomes.
“We believe that the optimal approach to making progress on regulatory issues is to establish a pathway to enable growers to use industry assurance programmes like New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP) and GLOBALG.A.P. to meet market and regulatory requirements via one integrated farm plan.”
Sands is encouraged to hear that the government is wanting to integrate existing industry assurance programmes into the FFP system.
“We want to see recognition of programmes like the NZGAP Environment Management System, which is trusted, robust and meets the desired policy outcomes.
“It would fit with the government’s goals and enable growers to find the right solutions for their farms and catchments.”
HortNZ is also calling for commercial vegetable production to become a permitted activity for growers with a FWFP.
“Over 80% of NZ-grown vegetables are grown for the domestic market,” Sands said.
“New Zealand’s growers are committed to operating to good management practices and the industry is committed to supporting them.
“That includes through product group research like the Sustainable Vegetable Systems programme and the HortNZ/Ministry for the Environment Growing Change project, which is supporting growers to develop their FWFP through a catchment-led approach. We encourage growers to maintain their ongoing efforts in environmental management via GAP and the EMS, supported by Growing Change, and to continue their sustainability journey despite the policy uncertainty.”
Sands said HortNZ wants a nationally consistent approach to planning rules to provide certainty for commercial vegetable production in New Zealand.
Regional councils have been unable to develop workable rules for vegetable production. Some regions constrain crop rotation, constrain nutrient supply to a level that reduces the amount of vegetables that can be produced and constrain expansion so growers cannot grow more vegetables to feed a growing population.
“Regional councils are not well placed to balance national benefit with local effects. The risk is regions make unworkable rules for commercial vegetable production, without taking into account the national importance of vegetable production in securing a resilient supply of healthy fresh food for New Zealanders.”
