Eutrophication Product Footprinting

How can the research be used? Ka pēhea e whai take ai te rangahau?

• This project identified how New Zealand agribusinesses might be rewarded for high environmental quality, potentially qualifying them for market incentives such as tax credits or payments for ecosystem services.
• Research in this project was linked with results from a meta-analysis of research that defined the likely premium for beef with low environmental emissions to Europe. This indicated that a price premium has potential to offset costs from constraints on farm systems to meet water quality limits.
• New Zealand case studies of meat products exported to Europe, produced in major catchment areas such as Lake Taupō and the Waikato River, have helped Product Eutrophication Footprinting scientists understand the benefits and the opportunities of marketing New Zealand products internationally.
• Farm system and environmental modelling of Taupō Beef through the life cycle to a European consumer has been carried out. Our model helps identify environmental hotspots and has been used to evaluate options for reducing environmental emissions.
• Our researchers have been involved in testing the European Product Environmental Footprint of New Zealand dairy and red meat products.
• Dr Sandra Payen, from the Product Eutrophication Footprinting team, was appointed co-chair of the United Nations Environmental Programme/Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (UNEP/SETAC) Life Cycle Initiative Task Force on Eutrophication in January 2018. Through this, the Product Eutrophication Footprinting project has contributed to the final recommendations for standards published by the UNEP in October 2019. This report is expected to influence market assurance schemes.