The European Commission has unveiled a livestock strategy backing a science-based split gas approach to methane and directly referencing New Zealand, reversing a decade of stock-cutting policy. Kate Acland, chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand, spoke to CountryWide CONNECT following the news.

“It is a fundamental shift in how they are treating livestock,” she says.

Europe is now talking about livestock as a strategic asset for food security. She says New Zealand led the science and faced criticism for it at home and abroad.

“This is not about agriculture being let off the hook.”

B+LNZ has been pushing government to extend the split gas approach to international commitments like the Paris Accord, something New Zealand has been reluctant to do.

“Cutting livestock numbers is not the answer.”

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.