The research programme explored the opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the use of fossil fuels by farm equipment and rural trucking by substitution with biofuel. Biofuel production on that scale requires purpose-grown energy crops. Our research has designed a novel energy crop production system that also reduces GHG emissions (from the manufacture of N fertiliser) by virtue of its ‘closed loop N supply’ feature.

The project will help the people of the Waiapu catchment, and Ngati Porou in particular look for options that will build resilience by focusing on what land use options, particularly forestry suit the catchment and community and developing new forestry approaches. This will be delivered by the local community, scientists, policy makers, and technical specialists taking a participatory approach to problem solving.

The purpose of the project was to, in collaboration with Aohanga Incorporation, develop a science-based climate change resilience strategy for Aohanga‘s multiple owned Owahanga Farm Station and to develop a social process framework for engaging rural communities and land-owning Iwi Incorporations in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

We evaluated the potential of forage rape (Brassica napus L.) to mitigate animal-level methane and nitrous oxide emissions when fed to growing sheep. In a previous study, funded by the PGgRc, feeding forage rape to sheep reduced methane emissions per unit of feed eaten by 25% compared with those from sheep fed ryegrass.

Plant diseases, a major constraint on New Zealand's horticultural production, are likely to be affected by temperature and rainfall changes resulting from global climate warming. This study undertook a quantitative analysis for key diseases affecting major horticultural crop sectors using disease risk models in use within those sectors, to ascertain likely changes in regional disease and allow the horticultural industry to plan for the future.

The nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) is used in New Zealand dairy farming to reduce nitrogen (N) losses from leaching and nitrous oxide emissions. Overseas studies have shown that, in certain conditions, DCD can potentially have an effect on a range of crops. This study assesses the impact of DCD on white clover growth and nitrogen fixation.

Insect pollinated seed crops contribute at least NZ$60Million annually in export earnings. These crops are pollinated by a range of insects including honey bees, bumble bees, native bees and flies, and maintaining pollinator diversity can be important for maximising crop yields. However, different pollinators are active at different times of the day and under varying climatic conditions (activity windows).

Indentification of methanogen-specific inhibitors and cross-reactive vaccine antigens

This report reviews what is currently known about the impacts of climate change on erosion processes and control methods in New Zealand. It reviews: climate change projections relevant to erosion; information on potential impacts; identifies areas most susceptible to climate change impacts on erosion; and summarises climate change effects on erosion; while identifying future research priorities.

Dairy farms in New Zealand use lagoons and ponds to store effluent washdown from milking sheds. These ponds are therefore a significant source of methane. This study aims to test the effectiveness of an improved design of biofilter as an integral part of a pond cover to oxidise CH4 emissions from dairy effluent ponds, thus providing a practical and potentially cost-effective technology to reduce dairy effluent emissions.

Scion, Landcare Research and the University of Canterbury reviewed national and international best practice in steepland plantation forests to understand and minimise the damage from post-harvest landslide and debris flows.

Note, while this document is marked 'confidential', it has since been approved for public release.

This report identifies the major opportunities that climate change brings to extend the growing season and increase forage crop yields through radical changes in forage germplasm and management.

Note, while this document is marked 'confidential', it has since been approved for public release.

This report gathers new above-and below-ground biomass and wood density data for Eucalyptus fastigata for carbon model development, required under NZ’s obligations to the Kyoto Protocol. The biomass work was done in conjunction with a survey of wood density and soil nitrogen fertility undertaken in trials of various ages throughout New Zealand. The entire data set will be used to develop a national carbon growth model for Eucalyptus fastigata in New Zealand.

Note, while this document is marked 'confidential', it has since been approved for public release.

In New Zealand, forest harvesting contributes about 50 percent of the cost of wood production, one of the highest harvesting costs in the world. The purpose of this project was to address these high costs by producing a dynamic-systems model of the harvesting process which could be used to define factors influencing harvesting productivity, identify opportunities for short-term improvements, and long-term changes to steep slope harvesting.

Note, while this document is marked 'confidential', it has since been approved for public release.

Carbon sequestration in plantation forests can be used to offset greenhouse gas emissions to meet New Zealand's international climate change obligations in the Kyoto Protocol. Although Pinus radiata grows quickly, species with higher wood density, such as Eucalyptus fastigata, are likely to be more suitable for plantations aimed at carbon sequestration. The aim of this study was to provide robust tools and models for predicting carbon sequestration for Eucalyptus fastigata.