Latest news with #Groundswell
NZ Herald
7 hours ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Groundswell and the new scaremongering about climate action
Some people found this month's ravaging floods in Nelson and Tasman quite scary, but never mind. Plans to identify who's helping to cause floods like that and who's helping to prevent them are apparently much worse. Talk about scaremongering. What does the taxonomy plan really mean? AgriZeroNZ has one answer. This joint venture between the Government, agribusinesses and banks has just announced a $6.3 million investment in BiomEdit. BiomEdit is an Indiana-based company that makes probiotic feed additives designed to boost productivity and reduce methane emissions from dairy cows. This is AgriZeroNZ's third such investment. Chief executive Wayne McNee says, 'We're investing in local and global companies to give us the best chance of providing New Zealand farmers with access to a range of affordable, effective mitigation solutions to choose from.' The taxonomy plan will allow this kind of financing to be accurately and independently assessed and labelled. Why would anyone call that 'the scariest thing'? Groundswell has come a long way in a short time. In 2020 this group of Southland farmers started to build a nationwide network with tractor convoy protests, sporting slogans like 'No tax on food production' and 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you'. Part of a Groundswell protest at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell Back then, Groundswell was relatively fringe. Since then, it has channelled climate denialism and anti-government campaigns into high-powered lobbying. I know, they will say they're not denialists. But in my view they consistently do their best to block climate action in the rural sector. They want us out of the Paris Accord and they argue methane has been unfairly targeted. They quack like a duck. To me, they're having the same impact as climate denialists. And their lobbying is effective. In my opinion, Groundswell has bent the Feds increasingly to their views and they have influential supporters in all three parties of Government. Back to sustainable finance taxonomy, which has been proposed by Climate Change Minister Simon Watts. As press gallery journalist Richard Harman has reported, his plan aligns with similar moves in Australia and the European Union. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts. Photo/ RNZ / The Centre for Sustainable Finance calls it 'a standardised framework for classifying economic activities according to their environmental performance'. The centre is a co-ordinating group that includes all the major banks and several of the big law and accountancy firms. When Watts floated the idea last September, he said, 'The strategy will provide the necessary clarity for financing and investments, helping New Zealand align with global sustainability trends. This alignment will not only attract investment but also increase jobs and drive economic growth locally.' If you think that sounds like a framework to allow banks to assess the climate impacts of lending proposals, you'd be right. Groundswell and the Feds are opposed and, in parallel, Act and NZ First both have private member's bills intended to make it illegal for financial institutions to consider 'ideology' or 'reputational risk' in their lending decisions. 'Woke banks!' complains NZ First. NZ First leader Winston Peters visiting the Covid-related protest at Parliament in 2022. Photo / Mark Mitchell This is absurd. Banks aren't driven by green ideology: they know that lending to ventures that could be undermined by climate change is bad business. They also know the world is full of greenwashing. The law firm Russell McVeagh says taxonomy 'could reduce both the risk of organisations describing financial products in a way that is accused of being misleading (greenwashing) and the risk of organisations staying silent on sustainability-related matters to avoid being accused of making misleading statements (greenhushing)'. Is that BiomEdit work credible? Sustainable finance taxonomy, done well, will tell us the answer. If it's yes, it can be promoted; if it's no, funding agencies can move on. Standing in the way of this is, to me, the same as denialism. It's also hypocritical, when it's done by political groups who claim to believe in the value of the market. Sustainable Finance Taxonomy empowers the market to make economically informed decisions. Russell McVeagh says it 'could allow the development of new financial products, such as KiwiSaver products that align ... with taxonomy criteria'. What a good thing that would be. Where does National stand on all this? Does Watts represent the party position or are the politics more subtle than that? National's climate response is very oddly mixed. To take just one example: oil and gas exploration is supposed to be restarting but the legislation to allow this is a long time coming. There's more rhetoric than reason in this policy, because it's well known that new exploration will not solve the twin energy crises of customer pricing and precarious supply. This is because prospecting outcomes are uncertain and the timelines are far too long. Meanwhile, Watts has put incentives in place to expand urban residential and rural solar power, but there's very little action to back them up. One way to read this is to assume Watts has been designated to build National's appeal to the climate-conscious middle ground of the electorate. But the party is terrified of losing provincial and rural votes to Act and NZ First, so Watts gets to say more than he gets to do. And while the oil and gas policy won't change anything we need changing, it does reward some very well-oiled lobbying from the fossil-fuel sector. Also, it allows Shane Jones to keep up the inflammatory posturing. Resources Minister Shane Jones during his appearance at the Economic Development Select Committee hearing this year. Photo / Mark Mitchell Which, in turn, provides cover for Government inaction on what's really needed: meaningful, customer-focused, climate-conscious reform of the energy sector. Where does this leave sustainable finance taxonomy? Will the Government support this initiative to reduce emissions and build climate resilience? Or will it cave in to Groundswell-inspired climate denialism and attack the ideologically-rotten greenies running the banks? It's a common view that the coalition Government has brought a new maturity to MMP, because the major party has worked out how to let the minor parties strut their own stuff, even when it's outrageous, while it gets on with its own programme. But real MMP maturity would involve more than this. If National supports Watts' plan for sorting the real climate action from the fake, and its partners are away chasing their denialist base, it should call on Opposition support. Call out that 'scariest thing yet' nonsense: that's how to stop the tail wagging the dog. And getting a mid-ground consensus to do the right thing is also very likely the way to build more trust and respect for politicians. Simon Wilson is an award-winning senior writer covering politics, the climate crisis, transport, housing, urban design and social issues, with a focus on Auckland. He joined the Herald in 2018.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Darina Allen: Three 'real food' recipes for a taste of Tasmania
Tasmanian food activist Matthew Evans from The Fat Pig Farm has been on my radar for a very long time but until recently our paths had never crossed. Well, blow me away, if he didn't walk into the hall of the Ballymaloe Cookery School the other day. I couldn't believe my eyes. He was over this side of the world to attend Groundswell, the regenerative farming festival in Hertfordshire in the UK and decided to swing by Ireland where some of his ancestors hailed from. Matthew has had a fascinating life, originally the restaurant critic for the Sydney Morning Herald, he became a chef, restaurateur, food writer, TV broadcaster and now is also a farmer. His seventy-acre mixed farm is in the beautiful Huon Valley, south of Hobart, right down on the southern end of Tasmania. He grows vegetables and fruit, makes cider, fattens a few heritage pigs and milks a couple of house cows to have beautiful fresh milk, the subject of Milk, one of his 15 books. Another simply entitled Soil is a hymn to the underappreciated three or four inches of earth below our feet on which our very existence depends. He, just like me, is passionate about the importance of rich fertile soil. After all, the only reason we have life on earth is topsoil, crucial for the health of the planet and our ability to grow food. Matthew came to farming from the kitchen. As a chef, he became intrigued by flavour and super curious about why some vegetables and fruits and herbs were so much more delicious than others. What was it that made a simple ingredient like carrots for example, taste so much more intensely sweet than others? This inevitably led him to the soil. Richer, more fertile organic soil, usually produces better tasting and more nutrient dense food — surprise, surprise! And so he has become a feisty advocate for regenerative, ecological farming, growing food in a way that replenishes the soil and ecosystems and keeps us healthy. Groundswell on Lannock Farm, now in its tenth year, creates a forum for farmers, growers, anyone interested in food production and the environment to come together to share ideas and learn about the theory of practical applications of regenerative farming systems. A series of brilliant speakers entice thousands of people from all over the world. ( (There was quite a contingent from Ireland and NOTS – National Organic Training Skillnet too, There is a consensus that we urgently need a global metric to measure outcomes on our farms. Polluters need to pay for the damage to the environment and farmers who deliver positive climate, nature and social outcomes, should be rewarded financially. These actions would be a game-changer. One of the many inspirational sessions I attended was entitled, Farming: Our Health Service. There is a growing concern that our current food system is broken but farming has the potential to be our natural health service so what do we need from food production to regenerate public health? They explored how whole health agriculture is needed to realign farming with both human and environmental health and wellbeing. Regenerative Farming or 'Regen' is the great new buzzword, but it is already being commandeered by the multinational food companies in their marketing and labelling. Thus far, however there is no definition so there is considerable confusion amongst the general public and a definite possibility of greenwashing. Regen is an admirable way to embark on a journey towards less artificial inputs, pesticides, herbicides and ultimately organic farming, however many 'regen' farmers are still using glyphosate, albeit less, to kill weeds but it also damages life in the soil. Without a strict definition, this inspirational movement runs the risk of being discredited. Matthew Evans gave me a present of his latest book, 'The Real Food Companion', published by Murdoch Books, a lifetime's worth of food knowledge, from the soil (where it all begins) to the table. Difficult to pick just three recipes from the hundreds in this inspirational tome, but enjoy these to get started. All recipes are from 'The Real Food Companion' by Matthew Evans, published by Murdoch Books. Matthew Evans' Crab and Chilli Omelette Rich egg, sweet crab and the spice of chilli combine to make this one hell of an omelette. Servings 2 Preparation Time 10 mins Cooking Time 10 mins Total Time 20 mins Course Main Ingredients 100g cooked crab meat 2 small red chillies, seeded and finely sliced 3 tbsp chopped coriander leaves 1 tsp fish sauce 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1 tbsp peanut oil 1 large garlic clove, crushed Method Mix the crabmeat in a bowl with the chilli, coriander, and fish sauce, then add the remaining sauce to the eggs. Heat the peanut oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat and quickly fry the garlic until starting to colour. Add the egg and stir until it is half cooked. Scatter the crab mixture over the top and press gently into the egg. When the egg is nearly cooked, fold the omelette over, and tip onto a plate. Halve the omelette and serve with steamed rice. Matthew Evans' Honeyed Anzac Biscuits I like my Anzac biscuits chewy, and it may take a couple of attempts to get them just right. Honey makes a nice change from the golden syrup that is used in most traditional recipes. Servings 25 Preparation Time 20 mins Cooking Time 20 mins Total Time 40 mins Course Baking Ingredients 100g rolled (porridge) oats 135g plain flour, sifted 200g caster sugar 70g shredded coconut 125g butter, cubed 2 tbsp honey 1 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), sifted Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Method Mix the oats, flour, sugar and coconut together in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre. Heat the butter and honey in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until melted and combined. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda to combine (it will foam up, this is normal). Pour the honey mixture into the dry ingredients and mix to combine. If it seems too stiff, add 1-2 teaspoons of water. Place dessertspoon-sized blobs about 5cm apart on the prepared trays, allowing room for them to spread. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden. They will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Matthew Evans' Rosewater A brilliant time of the year to make your own homemade rosewater. Makes 1 litre Course Side Ingredients 400g sugar petals from about 40 unsprayed roses, rinsed well Method Put the sugar and 1 litre water in a large saucepan over high heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer and push in as many petals as the water will hold. Bring back to a simmer, then turn off the heat and allow to steep until cool. Drain and discard the petals. You can intensify this syrup by repeatedly adding petals and steeping, though you do lose some liquid each time. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Variation: To make orange blossom water, follow the method for rosewater above, but substitute two handfuls of orange blossoms for the rose petals. You can also use lemon, cumquat or lime blossoms. Seasonal Journal One Plate for Palestine Campaign Seek out various restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, food trucks, market stalls who are participating in One Plate for Palestine, spearheaded by Barbara Nelson of St. Francis Provisions in Kinsale and Beverly Matthews of L'Atitude 51 in Cork City. It's an Irish hospitality-led week-long campaign running from July 22-27 raising funds for the people of Palestine who are at risk of starvation. All participating restaurants will add a special Palestinian-themed dish to their menu with all funds raised from the sale of that dish going to the One Plate for Palestine fundraiser. Instagram: @oneplateforpalestine Read More
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Prince William like ‘just another guy': inventor
Orepuki farmer and Kiwi Econet inventor Grant Lightfoot met Prince William during the prince's surprise visit to the UK's regenerative agriculture festival, Groundswell. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Orepuki eco-farming inventor Grant Lightfoot has taken his edible bale netting to the world — including British royalty. Mr Lightfoot introduced his award-winning eco invention to Prince William during the prince's surprise visit to the United Kingdom's regenerative agriculture festival; Groundswell, last week. A festival official had organised for Prince William to stop at Mr Lightfoot's stall because he was the stall holder that had travelled the furthest. After a quick chat with one of the prince's team, who had already heard about the edible bale netting, Mr Lightfoot stood at his stall ready for the prince's arrival. "I had my card in my hand and my brochure ready . . . " However, after speaking on stage, the prince headed off in another direction. "He had six security guards, and the crowd. There was just thousands of people around. And me being me, I just bee-lined for him and stopped him. And before the security guys could get a word in, I started talking about my edible bail net. The prince, as the eldest son of the reigning British monarch, inherited the Duke of Cornwall title and estates, becoming custodian of 52,172ha of land across 19 counties. Mr Lightfoot invited the prince to see the eco-friendly bale net. "It was so funny. Everyone just [did] a complete U-turn and came straight over to see me and my bail." Orepuki farmer and Kiwi Econet inventor Grant Lightfoot with his product. PHOTO: APL FILES During a brief chat with the prince, he explained the benefits of the wrap and how it could be eaten by stock animals and saved the environment. "I spoke to him like he was just another guy, and he spoke to me the same way. He took my business card, my brochure and said, 'we'll be in contact'." A video taken of the meeting and shared on social media platforms had gone viral, Mr Lightfoot said. Two days before Groundswell, the Southland farmer decided on an unscheduled early morning stopover at Jeremy Clarkson's Diddley Squat farm. But he initially took a wrong turn into Mr Clarkson's neighbour's property. "So I went up there and got talking to the film guy — they were just about to start filming. "He said, 'you know you're trespassing, blah blah blah'. "I said, 'no, I didn't know that. I thought I'd just drive up and say g'day." "Once I told him who I was, the attitude changed." The show's producer expressed an interest in featuring Kiwi Econet on Mr Clarkson's show sometime in the future. By Toni McDonald
Otago Daily Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Prince William ‘just another guy': inventor
Orepuki farmer and Kiwi Econet inventor Grant Lightfoot met Prince William during the prince's surprise visit to the UK's regenerative agriculture festival, Groundswell. Photo: supplied Orepuki eco-farming inventor Grant Lightfoot has taken his edible bale netting to the world — including British royalty. Mr Lightfoot introduced his award-winning eco invention to Prince William during the prince's surprise visit to the United Kingdom's regenerative agriculture festival; Groundswell, last week. A festival official had organised for Prince William to stop at Mr Lightfoot's stall because he was the stall holder that had travelled the furthest. After a quick chat with one of the prince's team, who had already heard about the edible bale netting, Mr Lightfoot stood at his stall ready for the prince's arrival. "I had my card in my hand and my brochure ready ... " However, after speaking on stage, the prince headed off in another direction. "He had six security guards, and the crowd. There was just thousands of people around. And me being me, I just bee-lined for him and stopped him. And before the security guys could get a word in, I started talking about my edible bail net. The prince, as the eldest son of the reigning British monarch, inherited the Duke of Cornwall title and estates, becoming custodian of 52,172ha of land across 19 counties. Mr Lightfoot invited the prince to see the eco-friendly bale net. "It was so funny. Everyone just [did] a complete U-turn and came straight over to see me and my bail." During a brief chat with the prince, he explained the benefits of the wrap and how it could be eaten by stock animals and saved the environment. "I spoke to him like he was just another guy, and he spoke to me the same way. He took my business card, my brochure and said, 'we'll be in contact'." A video taken of the meeting and shared on social media platforms had gone viral, Mr Lightfoot said. Two days before Groundswell, the Southland farmer decided on an unscheduled early morning stopover at Jeremy Clarkson's Diddley Squat farm. But he initially took a wrong turn into Mr Clarkson's neighbour's property. Photo: supplied "So I drove back out the driveway and went up the next driveway and it was, bingo — here's Jeremy Clarkson's farm. "So I went up there and got talking to the film guy — they were just about to start filming. "He said, 'you know you're trespassing, blah blah blah'. "I said, 'no, I didn't know that. I thought I'd just drive up and say g'day." "Once I told him who I was, the attitude changed." They had already heard about the product through social media. The show's producer expressed an interest in featuring Kiwi Econet on Mr Clarkson's show sometime in the future. Mr Lightfoot, who had been travelling through Europe promoting the product, is continuing his promotional tour in the United States before returning to Southland. The new product had made "the world an oyster", he said. "People cannot believe what I've got, because everyone hates plastic." Farmers already producing baleage were able to use their existing machinery. "So that's another big bonus as well." He had fielded global inquiries, including from Switzerland, Europe and Chile, and expects to be able to meet demand. The edible bale netting, made of jute yarn, is manufactured and shipped from India.
Otago Daily Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Prince William like ‘just another guy': NZ inventor
Orepuki eco-farming inventor Grant Lightfoot has taken his edible bale netting to the world — including British royalty. Mr Lightfoot introduced his award-winning eco invention to Prince William during the prince's surprise visit to the United Kingdom's regenerative agriculture festival; Groundswell, this week. A festival official had organised for Prince William to stop at Mr Lightfoot's stall because he was the stall holder that had travelled the furthest. After a quick chat with one of the prince's team, who had already heard about the edible bale netting, Mr Lightfoot stood at his stall ready for the prince's arrival. "I had my card in my hand and my brochure ready ... " However, after speaking on stage, the prince headed off in another direction. "He had six security guards, and the crowd. There was just thousands of people around. And me being me, I just bee-lined for him and stopped him. And before the security guys could get a word in, I started talking about my edible bail net. The prince, as the eldest son of the reigning British monarch, inherited the Duke of Cornwall title and estates, becoming custodian of 52,172ha of land across 19 counties. Orepuki farmer and Kiwi Econet inventor Grant Lightfoot met Prince William this week during the prince's surprise visit to the UK's regenerative agriculture festival, Groundswell. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Mr Lightfoot invited the prince to see the eco-friendly bale net. "It was so funny. Everyone just [did] a complete U-turn and came straight over to see me and my bail." During a brief chat with the prince, he explained the benefits of the wrap and how it could be eaten by stock animals and saved the environment. "I spoke to him like he was just another guy, and he spoke to me the same way. He took my business card, my brochure and said, 'we'll be in contact'." A video taken of the meeting and shared on social media platforms had gone viral, Mr Lightfoot said. Two days before Groundswell, the Southland farmer decided on an unscheduled early morning stopover at Jeremy Clarkson's Diddley Squat farm. But he initially took a wrong turn into Mr Clarkson's neighbour's property. "So, I went up there and got talking to the film guy — they were just about to start filming. "He said, 'you know you're trespassing, blah blah blah'. "I said, 'no, I didn't know that. I thought I'd just drive up and say g'day." "Once I told him who I was, the attitude changed." Orepuki farmer Grant Lightfoot talks to Prince William about his product. They had already heard about the product through social media. The show's producer expressed an interest in featuring Kiwi Econet on Mr Clarkson's show sometime in the future. Mr Lightfoot, who had been travelling through Europe promoting the product, is continuing his promotional tour in the United States before returning to Southland. The new product had made "the world an oyster", he said. "People cannot believe what I've got, because everyone hates plastic." Farmers already producing baleage were able to use their existing machinery. "So that's another big bonus as well." He had fielded global inquiries, including from Switzerland, Europe and Chile, and expects to be able to meet demand. The edible bale netting, made of jute yarn, is manufactured and shipped from India. — Toni McDonald
