Business Rural Winter 2021

42 | MEAT & WOOL » Lake Hawea Station Family plans to build Lake Hawea Station proudly brands its merino wool. Richard Loader L ake Hawea Station recently became the first New Zealand farm to achieve Toitu Envirocare Carbon Zero Certification. Geoff Ross, who with his family, has owned the sheep and beef property for the last three years says the certification underpins the considerable environmental work that has been done on the farm. “Environmental stewardship is something that we, as a family, have been strong on for a long time. My eldest son is now studying carbon sequestra- tion in Melbourne, doing his PhD on carbon. And I’ve been involved in Pure Advantage for over ten years.” Toitu Envirocare is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, a Govern- ment-owned Crown Research Institute, and more typically calculates the carbon footprint of larger organisations, such as Air New Zealand. Geoff says that in a world where consumers want to know the carbon footprint of the organisations they interact with, Toitu are able to audit any busi- ness and come up with the carbon number based on their emission or sequestration. “Consumers want to know the carbon number of what they buy as we try to decarbonise our planet and halt the effects of climate change. New Zealand Merino is pretty progressive in understanding what its off-shore customers are demanding. They recognised that customers buying woollen sweaters and active wear want to know the carbon footprint of the clothing.” • to page 44 Geoff says it is equally important for New Zealand farmers to know their carbon number so that as a whole the country and the Government knows its total emissions number. “Countries are starting to make commitments to their greenhouse gas reductions and so the first step in making a reduction is to know what our start point is. That is what we in farming, along with every other organisation are having to do.” Lake Hawea Station had taken the initiative to calculate its carbon rating about eighteen months ago with scientists Dr Debbie Care and Dr Angus McPherson visiting the property to calculate the on-farm carbon footprint. “Toitu audited their numbers and their work, and had a look on farm. So Toitu really certified the work that Angus and Debbie had already completed. But we’re not just carbon neutral, we’re carbon positive by around times 2.5 in our sequestration. That means we’re sequestering more carbon than we emit. That shows a farm can actually heal the planet, rather than harm it.” Geoff says for those who have been critical of ag- riculture and said that it is a contributor to climate change, Lake Hawea Station is a grand example that clearly demonstrates farming is a solution in climate change. “Farming can be a tool in healing the planet as well as crating food and fibre at the same time. It’s going to be more challenging for an intensive dairy farm that doesn’t have the bush and vegetation. “But we’re not just carbon neutral, we’re carbon positive by around times 2.5 in our sequestration. That means we’re sequestering more carbon than we emit. That shows a farm can actually heal the planet, rather than harm it.” Pleased to be associated with Lake Hawea Station STOCK CARTAGE SOWING BULK CARTAGE ALLIED FUEL STOP UPPER CLUTHA TRANSPORT Luggate Ph: 03 443 8221 E: luggate@uct.co.nz W: www.uppercluthatransport.co.nz