Agri-Adaptation Roadmap

Agri-Sector Climate Change Scenarios

Farmers, growers and producers are experiencing first hand the devastation of increasing extreme weather events. The development of these climate change scenarios provides consistent data for the sector who are seeking to mitigate and adapt and will serve as the basis for the Agri-Adaptation Roadmap.

Click here or on the image to download the report.

Agri-Sector Adaptation Roadmap

Tapping into the expertise of the agriculture industry, growers, government, iwi māori and scientists, we have worked collectively to develop climate scenarios and a roadmap of actions to create a sector that is proactively planning for the future and building long-term resilience.

Click here or the image to read the full report

The Aotearoa Circle has brought together leaders from across the agriculture sector and experts in climate and land science, te ao Māori, policy and finance for this new workstream ‘adapting to climate change; a strategy and roadmap for the agriculture sector’.
This workstream comes at a time of urgency.
The workstream will build on the vast array of work already available, including He Waka Eke Noa or underway in the science and policy areas to co-design a strategy that aims to transition the sector from one which is reactive to severe weather events and is in constant ‘clean-up’ mode, to one which is proactively planning and building long-term resilience to our changing climate.
The Government has now published New Zealand’s first National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and this work will align well, to provide support to farmers and sector stakeholders to respond to the policies and measures set out in the NAP.
Getting widespread agreement from both industry and government leaders to implement the action plan is the ultimate opportunity for this project.
Both mitigating and adapting to climate change represents a complex and daunting set of challenges for all nations, economic sectors, communities and individuals. In New Zealand, much of the public and private sector climate change action undertaken to date has focused on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) to ensure we can meet our international and domestic climate change targets.
It is only more recently as severe weather events become more frequent that it has become clear that responding and adapting to the impacts of climate change presents an equally significant challenge.
As New Zealand’s largest contributor to the tradable economy, the agriculture sector faces unprecedented levels of disruption: the political drive to reduce absolute GHG emissions and the economic need to build resilience in the face of a changing climate. A comprehensive strategy and roadmap of actions for how the sector can adapt to a changing climate and the extreme weather events, natural resource constraints, land-use changes and supply chain disruptions that come with it, is now critical for ensuring food security in New Zealand as well as the resilience of our key export market.
This level of change will require support, guidance and collaboration across the agriculture sector, and both public and private sector leadership.

Activity Tracker

1. Vulnerability assessment
  Undertake an assessment of the agriculture sector to identify the production systems and regions likely to be most vulnerable to climate change (overlaying sector-level climate scenario analysis). This builds upon existing data sources and connects with activity currently underway in the sector.
  Existing Activities
  MfE First national climate change risk assessment for New Zealand
2. Education and extension
  Collaboratively develop open-access climate change adaptation modules that are available in multiple formats including online, delivered through in-person workshops, and embed a tailored whenua Māori programme. Integrate content delivery with existing extension group activities, such as discussion and catchment groups to encourage a nationally coordinated but locally delivered approach.
  Existing Activities
  • MPI Māori Agribusiness Extension (MABx) programme
  • NZIPIM and NZAGRC Climate change seminars for rural professionals
3. Adaptation plan development
  Two-three businesses in each key subsector of the agriculture sector develop and publish their climate change adaptation plans. Where relevant, this should take a whole of farm system approach aligned with Integrated Farm Planning and provide case studies to illustrate best practice for organisations of varying sizes.
  Existing Activities
  • Zespri Climate change adaptation plan
  • MfE National adaptation plan
1. Strategic climate change adaptation funding alignment
  Strategically align existing and future funding from industry and Government to ensure it is accessible for climate change adaptation investments and implementation. This should include private capital, trusts, and foundations, in addition to the establishment of blended finance mechanisms. Investment areas include (but are not limited to) funding for R&D and implementation related to production system diversification, acceleration of alternative protein entrepreneurship, especially where integrated with existing production systems, and the development and delivery of climate change adaptation tools and technologies.
  Existing Activities
  • MPI Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund and Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change Adaptation Programme
2. Enhanced access to climate change adaptation capital
  Create a working group focused on rapidly scaling accessible and fit-for-purpose funding to enable climate change adaptation investment through an extension of existing banking-system lending offerings, including the development of a climate change adaptation funding standard.
  Existing Activities
  • Green loan categories and Sustainability Linked Loans by banking providers
The Aotearoa Circle is currently leading a strategic conversation series to identify obstacles and opportunities to improve the way organisations can access discounted lending for investment in sustainability and climate change adaptation. This includes the topics of blended finance, education & awareness, and transaction costs.
On 11th October The Aotearoa Circle co-hosted a webinar ‘Sustainable Finance in the Food System” alongside The Centre for Sustainable Finance and Fit for a Better World. Webinar recording here:
In phase two, late October, we’ve hosted a banking-system focus session, focused on all sectors.
In phase three, November/December, we’re hosting sector-specific workshops in each of agriculture, tourism, and seafood, which will inform establishment of any subsequent workstreams and activity for 2024.
1. Sector and research institute data partnership
  Establish a partnership agreement and data platform/process between the relevant research institutes and sector businesses for access to climate change (and other relevant) data. Prioritise solutions which ensure the economic viability of data providers and receivers, whilst hastening data-led decision making in the sector.
2. Adaptation indicators, tracking and forecasting
  Gather relevant data that supports adaptation indicators for the sector, with an emphasis on considering physical climate changes, risk assessment and response, and incorporate in forecasting systems. Agree indicators to measure, track and report progress on climate variables, impacts, and the sector’s adaptation response. Explore funding sources to enable scale-up of implementation tools and activities.
  Existing Activities
  • NIWA Our Future Climate web tool
3. Data interoperability
  Invest in initiatives to bring together existing tools and databases that support tactical (in-season responses) and strategic (multi-year, what if) decision making for climate change analysis and adaptation at a sector, regional and farmer/grower level.
  Existing Activities
  • Agritech NZ Agricultural Data Interoperability, Trust Alliance New Zealand and the Aotearoa New Zealand Agri Data Syndicate
1. Ecosystem services
  Establish a nationally coordinated and internationally recognised system for rewarding and economically incentivising landowners and agribusinesses for their ecosystem services. Leverage existing global and local examples for the enhancement of biodiversity, reduction in environmental footprint, controlling of erosion, protection of waterways and investment in other areas of climate change adaptation.
  Existing Activities
  • The Toha Network Pāmu SFFF ecosystem services project
2. Biotechnology (modern genetic technologies)
  Develop an education supplement which communicates the scientific evidence, opportunities, potential benefits, and key considerations of using modern genetic technologies with a focus on climate change adaptation and environmental impact.
  Building on existing economic analysis and perspectives, inform a pathway with a clear end-result of modernising Aotearoa New Zealand’s stance on the interpretation and use of modern genetic technologies in the food system and if required, steps to enable their use.
  Existing Activities
  • Te Puna Whakaaronui, WELL_NZ: Modern genetic technology – what it is and how it is regulated
  • Royal Society Te Apārangi Gene Editing in Aotearoa
The Aotearoa Circle have initiated a two phase workstream to:
1. Complete an environmental impact assessment which communicates the scientific evidence, opportunities, potential benefits and risks, and key considerations of using a sample of modern genetic technologies in the context of New Zealand’s food and fibre production systems.
2. Co-develop an integrated action pathway which incorporates public and private sector, science, NGO and Māori/iwi considerations throughout.
Purpose
The deliverables of both phases fill crucial gaps to enable informed decision-making and understanding of action options and will therefore be provided to the Government and sector to inform the strategic positioning and required actions for Aotearoa to respond to the rapid advancement of modern genetic technologies.
1. Aotearoa National Food Strategy Pathway
  Continue to develop a systems-led approach to the food system across the public and private sector, leveraging the Mana Kai food system framework and other sector initiatives to enable the development of a future Aotearoa New Zealand National Food System Strategy.
  Existing Activities
  • Mana Kai, The Purpose and Values of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Food System
2. Attract and retain sector engagement
  Enable sector-level coordinated engagement directly with the Aotearoa New Zealand public to highlight the importance of the agriculture sector to the country and communicate the challenges and opportunities that are presented by climate change adaptation.
  Existing Activities
  • MPI Opportunity Grows Here campaign

Co-Chairs

The Agri workstream has an impressive leadership group assembled to work with the co-chairs, including

Chief Transformation Officer for Fit For a Better World at Ministry for Primary Industries
Jenny Cameron is the Chief Transformation Officer for Fit For a Better World at Ministry for Primary Industries. Jenny’s focus is on driving the Food & Fibre sector roadmap for accelerating the productivity, sustainability and inclusivity potential of the primary sector to 2030. Prior to joining MPI, Jenny was the General Manager for Responsible Dairy at DairyNZ, overseeing a portfolio of work covering climate, water, biosecurity, animal welfare and workforce issues. Ms Cameron has also held roles as the inaugural Chief Executive of the Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand, and the Director of External Relations for the Brewers’ Association of Australia and NZ. She spent ten years with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in various trade and legal positions, including a posting to Japan. Jenny gained an LLB/BA (Psych) from Victoria University of Wellington, holds a current practising certificate and membership of the NZ Institute of Directors. Shaped by experiences as a family lawyer in Palmerston North, Ms Cameron is motivated to understand the social drivers behind the big policy challenges, and how business, community and government can collaborate to bring better solutions to the table.

Kaihautū (Chief Executive) (Ngāi Tahu – Ōtākou, Puketeraki, Taumutu, Ngāi Tahuriri, Hokonui)
Craig began his role as CE of Ngāi Tahu Holdings in December, following 17 months as the Chief Operating Officer . He has extensive experience in governance across a wide range of sectors. He is Chair of Wellington Zoo, and a director on Sanford..
Past roles show a long involvement in the Fisheries and Seafood sector including running the marketing, finance and quota management for his family company, Ōtākou Fisheries. He was the past Chair of Ngāi Tahu Seafood, Poutama Trust, Moana Pacific, Prepared Foods, the NZ Seafood Standards Council, Executive Chair of Seafood New Zealand, as well as serving on the Executive of the Fishing Industry Association, and numerous stakeholder organisations.
He has previously served on the Board of Airways New Zealand, NIWA, the Trade Liberalisation Network, Sealord, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. and Co-chaired the PECC Fisheries Task Force (with Chinese Taipei).
Craig was a member of the Food and Fibre Partnership and Leadership groups.