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A partnership between Ngāi Tahu Farming and Ngāi Tūāhuriri (one of the 18 Rūnanga/Tribal Councils of Ngāi Tahu), and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund is currently undergoing baseline testing to launch a side by side regenerative vs conventional farming experiment, validating the science of indigenous regenerative agriculture.
The land was converted out of forestry in 2018 and the goal is to revitalise the poorly developed soil post-forestry into thriving dairy farms to grow inter-generational sustainability. Not only will the 7-year study assess the effects on nature, but also how regenerative farming methods holistically impact the wellbeing of the farmers themselves.
The operating model of the largest Chilean dairy producer, Manuka, is already based on the New Zealand pastoral system. Based in the south of Chile with operations across Los Lagos and Los Rios, similar latitudes to New Zealand, Manuka has a particular focus on environmental and social sustainability. They implement the New Zealand grazing and grass management model, as well as take steps to reduce emissions, engage in local reforestation initiatives, and improve renewable energy usage.
New Zealand's conventional pastoral farming model already includes some degree of regenerative principles such as rotational grazing and longer lengths, diverse species, minimal tillage and cultivation techniques, and use of organic fertilisers like seaweed and fish fertiliser. Alongside measuring the outputs and environmental health of the side-by-side conventional and regenerative farms, the trial will incorporate and showcase mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and the environmental and social benefits this provides to our interlinked social and ecological natural systems.
With fast-approaching NZ agriculture regulatory changes likely to impact reporting on emissions, financial support, and farm-level operations, the results of this indigenous science-based experiment will likely aid in establishing mainstream KPIs and targets for farmers seeking sustainability-linked finance and alternative agriculture practices to reduce emissions and comply with reporting. The next few years will be pivotal as NZ financial institutions incorporate Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) & Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) principles into business lending and bonds in adherence with the National Adaptation Plan.
The trial therefore, offers immense opportunities not only for defining regenerative agriculture practices and standards in New Zealand and proving the value and benefits of the system design to farmers and the financial sector, but also to drive sustainable change across similar systems in Chile. The similarities shared in these sectors and the rich indigenous agricultural knowledge across the regions offer solutions to work with nature rather than against it to develop sustainable agricultural systems and increase resilience and mitigation of the effects of climate change.
Me hoki whakamuri, kia anga whakamua - look to the past in order to forge the future.