Greens' fertiliser ban would send food prices soaring

“The Green Party's latest push to ban synthetic fertiliser would drive up the price of everyday food at the checkout and slash New Zealand's export income.” ACT Agriculture spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says.

"During a cost of living crisis, the Greens want to make broccoli $9.

"When the Greens talk about getting rid of synthetic fertiliser, they seem to think farmers use the stuff for fun. It's bloody expensive, but it's also essential for growing the food New Zealand families rely on.

"It's pretty simple. Use less fertiliser, you grow less food. Reduce supply, prices go up. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research found that squeezing farmers' use of nitrogen through tougher regulation could send the price of broccoli as high as $9 a head. I'm not sure that's much of a plan for helping with the cost of living.

"The Greens also seem to forget that agriculture pays New Zealand's bills. When you produce less, you export less. That means fewer export dollars flowing into the country, less economic activity, fewer jobs, and ultimately less revenue to pay for the public services New Zealanders rely on. Synthetic fertiliser has transformed modern agriculture.

"Farmers haven't stood still. New Zealand pioneered rotational grazing with electric fencing, and today technologies like Halter are taking productivity to another level.

"Producing more food from every hectare has also meant we can retire marginal land and protect more native bush. Better productivity means we don't need to clear more land to feed more people.

"The Greens want to throw all that progress away. A Labour-Green-TPM Government would take New Zealand backwards.

“Improving freshwater outcomes requires practical solutions, not blanket bans from Wellington. Farmers up and down the country are already doing great work protecting waterways.

"The best approach is for each farmer to understand the risks on their own farm, put practical mitigations in place, and work alongside their neighbours on catchment plans.

"That's how we improve water quality while keeping farms productive. It's a lot smarter than banning the tools that help feed the world."