What’s on the Horizon after the Clean Streams Accord?

“The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord has done its job of raising awareness of adverse environmental effects among dairy farmers, and the recent Snapshot of Progress clearly shows progress on the ground has stalled,” said Bryce Johnson, Chief Executive, New Zealand Fish & Game Council. “The Accord is definitely past its use-by-date.”

“New Zealand’s agriculture must now be put onto a mandatory environmentally sustainable best practice footing with clear requirements around water quality, environmentally acceptable flows, and limits on types of land use. No more excuses such as ‘we need more science’ and ‘more education will lead to voluntary change’. There are tomes of print on the first, and the second clearly isn’t working.”

“Agricultural leadership has let agriculture down, and a mix of education and regulation is urgently required.”

“One bright light in an otherwise dark paddock is Horizons MW’s proposed One Plan. This scheme seeks to do exactly what we all now see is required; agriculture underpinned by regulatory requirements around environmental best practice.”

“Importantly, at the end of the Proposed One Plan hearings in Palmerston North recently, the One Plan Hearing Commissioners invited stakeholders to meet urgently with a view to clarify their positions and to find and confirm common ground. This collaborative approach has been well signaled by Government as the preferred way ahead, and is most likely to develop effective and robust solutions.”

“A widely supported regulatory framework is also a form of free environmental accreditation for producers and exporters – a win for farmers, the environment and all New Zealanders.”

“This approach ought to be commended to the rest of New Zealand. Horizons MW is well ahead of the game.”

ENDS

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