Increase In Research Funding Welcome

17 May 2007

Increase In Research Funding Welcome

Fonterra has welcomed Government plans to increase research funding to boost agriculture.

Chairman Henry van der Heyden says Fonterra welcomes the increased research and development assistance announced in today’s Budget targeting agriculture and climate change.

“The boost to biosecurity funding is also good news as it is vital New Zealand’s all important primary sector is further protected at the border from biosecurity threats.”

He says Fonterra already committed millions of dollars each year to industry research and any increase from Government is pleasing.

Mr van der Heyden says the extra funding for climate change research is a timely boost to the current primary sector commitment – via the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium – on reducing agricultural emissions.

“This has the biggest potential to make a significant impact on New Zealand’s emissions profile and we warmly support any Government acknowledgement of this and the extra provision of new research funding.”

Mr van der Heyden says Fonterra is committed to working with the Government on ways to reduce agriculture’s impact on climate change.

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