The Soil & Health Association is welcoming last week’s “Knowing what’s out there” report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. The report criticises New Zealand’s lack of monitoring and regulation of environmental harm from chemicals.
Jodie Bruning, national councillor for the Soil & Health Association
“New Zealand lags behind other countries on monitoring and regulation of toxic agrichemicals, putting our health, environment and overseas trade agenda at risk,” says Soil & Health spokesperson Jodie Bruning.
“A more integrated framework, suggested by the report, will help the right hand know what the left hand is doing, this is currently not happening in New Zealand, when it comes to environmental chemicals.
“For example the Environmental Protection Agency, our government watchdog on these issues, had to make a public appeal last year for information on glyphosate use. Why do they need to resort to this? Because they don’t monitor glyphosate’s use, availability, or impacts. There’s no feedback loop between the agency and our territorial and local authorities.
“It’s been shown that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen and its widespread use in New Zealand must be stopped.
“Glyphosate is the tip of the iceberg. Our regulatory settings are useless if we are not informed about environmental pollution, and if the regulator is not keeping an eye on what’s happening on the ground.
“The government needs to take this report seriously. This includes expediting a formal reassessment of glyphosate as a key next step in protecting New Zealanders and the natural environment from harm.”
https://soilandhealth.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/cropped-SHA-1.png297299editorhttps://soilandhealth.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Soil-and-Health-Association_logoFA-web2024.jpgeditor2022-03-07 09:07:262025-02-12 10:27:16Wake-up call on the environmental and human health harms of toxic agrichemicals
The Soil & Health Association welcomes the opportunity to submit on this proposal to revise and update the definitions in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) for ‘food produced using gene technology’ and ‘gene technology’, to make them clearer and to better reflect existing and emerging genetic technologies, including new breeding techniques (NBTs)
https://soilandhealth.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Soil-and-Health-Association_logoFA-web2024.jpg00editorhttps://soilandhealth.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Soil-and-Health-Association_logoFA-web2024.jpgeditor2021-12-14 11:19:012021-12-14 11:19:01Submission of the Soil & Health Association on definitions for gene technology and new breeding techniques
The Soil & Health Association is joining other environmental groups calling for immediate action to tackle farming emissions.
Consultation on the government’s draft Emissions Reduction Plan closes today and environmental groups are united in calling for stronger action.
“It’s unacceptable that agriculture, our largest emitting sector, is the least developed and most poorly explained aspect of the Emissions Reduction Plan,” says Jenny Lux, organic farmer and deputy chair of the Soil & Health Association.
“Too much emphasis is put on finding new technologies. Let’s use the tools we already have. More can be done, and sooner, by supporting a faster transition to regenerative organic farming.
“The Emissions Reduction Plan needs to identify a pathway to transform agriculture, with clear direction and support for immediately available solutions like organics.
“Pricing farm emissions is the key government policy right now, and for this reason agriculture must enter the Emissions Trading Scheme from 2022.
“Limits on synthetic nitrogen and imported feed are also needed as signals that we need to change our farming systems.
“Ultimately the New Zealand Government must adopt a target for increasing regenerative organic production.
“Organics have global recognition as a low-emission and environmentally friendly farming system. International markets are moving quickly to increase organic production to reduce emissions and because global consumers are voting with their wallets.”
https://soilandhealth.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Jenny-Lux-2.jpg17642243editorhttps://soilandhealth.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Soil-and-Health-Association_logoFA-web2024.jpgeditor2021-11-24 09:33:042024-08-26 07:59:08Soil & Health joins call for immediate action on farming emissions
Our submission focuses on agriculture and organic waste and states that more can be done, sooner, by supporting a faster transition to regenerative organic farming.
Emissions from organic waste and from agriculture can be reduced through conversion of farming to regenerative organic systems alongside better organic waste collection and processing for composting and soil-building.
To do this the government needs to prioritise support for existing available solutions such as organics rather than focusing on new technologies. We agree that rural extension services, research and better waste regulation are key tools to deliver this change.
https://soilandhealth.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Soil-and-Health-Association_logoFA-web2024.jpg00editorhttps://soilandhealth.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Soil-and-Health-Association_logoFA-web2024.jpgeditor2021-11-24 09:19:242024-08-13 08:54:48Submission of the Soil & Health Association on the Emissions Reduction Plan
Wake-up call on the environmental and human health harms of toxic agrichemicals
/in Glyphosate, Health, Media Releases, WaterThe Soil & Health Association is welcoming last week’s “Knowing what’s out there” report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. The report criticises New Zealand’s lack of monitoring and regulation of environmental harm from chemicals.
“New Zealand lags behind other countries on monitoring and regulation of toxic agrichemicals, putting our health, environment and overseas trade agenda at risk,” says Soil & Health spokesperson Jodie Bruning.
“A more integrated framework, suggested by the report, will help the right hand know what the left hand is doing, this is currently not happening in New Zealand, when it comes to environmental chemicals.
“For example the Environmental Protection Agency, our government watchdog on these issues, had to make a public appeal last year for information on glyphosate use. Why do they need to resort to this? Because they don’t monitor glyphosate’s use, availability, or impacts. There’s no feedback loop between the agency and our territorial and local authorities.
“It’s been shown that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen and its widespread use in New Zealand must be stopped.
“Glyphosate is the tip of the iceberg. Our regulatory settings are useless if we are not informed about environmental pollution, and if the regulator is not keeping an eye on what’s happening on the ground.
“The government needs to take this report seriously. This includes expediting a formal reassessment of glyphosate as a key next step in protecting New Zealanders and the natural environment from harm.”
ENDS
Notes
The PCE report is covered here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/462653/lack-of-mechanisms-to-govern-chemical-use-in-nz-commissioner
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Submission of the Soil & Health Association on definitions for gene technology and new breeding techniques
/in SubmissionsThe Soil & Health Association welcomes the opportunity to submit on this proposal to revise and update the definitions in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) for ‘food produced using gene technology’ and ‘gene technology’, to make them clearer and to better reflect existing and emerging genetic technologies, including new breeding techniques (NBTs)
Read our full submission here.
Soil & Health joins call for immediate action on farming emissions
/in Farming, Media Releases, OrganicsThe Soil & Health Association is joining other environmental groups calling for immediate action to tackle farming emissions.
Consultation on the government’s draft Emissions Reduction Plan closes today and environmental groups are united in calling for stronger action.
“It’s unacceptable that agriculture, our largest emitting sector, is the least developed and most poorly explained aspect of the Emissions Reduction Plan,” says Jenny Lux, organic farmer and deputy chair of the Soil & Health Association.
“Too much emphasis is put on finding new technologies. Let’s use the tools we already have. More can be done, and sooner, by supporting a faster transition to regenerative organic farming.
“The Emissions Reduction Plan needs to identify a pathway to transform agriculture, with clear direction and support for immediately available solutions like organics.
“Pricing farm emissions is the key government policy right now, and for this reason agriculture must enter the Emissions Trading Scheme from 2022.
“Limits on synthetic nitrogen and imported feed are also needed as signals that we need to change our farming systems.
“Ultimately the New Zealand Government must adopt a target for increasing regenerative organic production.
“Organics have global recognition as a low-emission and environmentally friendly farming system. International markets are moving quickly to increase organic production to reduce emissions and because global consumers are voting with their wallets.”
Our submission on the Emissions Reduction Plan is available to read here:
https://soilandhealth.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Emissions-Reduction-Plan-submission-Soil-and-Health-November-2021.pdf
Submission of the Soil & Health Association on the Emissions Reduction Plan
/in SubmissionsOur submission focuses on agriculture and organic waste and states that more can be done, sooner, by supporting a faster transition to regenerative organic farming.
Emissions from organic waste and from agriculture can be reduced through conversion of farming to regenerative organic systems alongside better organic waste collection and processing for composting and soil-building.
To do this the government needs to prioritise support for existing available solutions such as organics rather than focusing on new technologies. We agree that rural extension services, research and better waste regulation are key tools to deliver this change.
Read our full submission here.