NZAGRC - Development of a national infrastructure investment plan to accelerate agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation solutions

Details

Background:
The NZ Government is legislatively bound to meet certain emission reduction targets through the Climate Change Act as laid out in the Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP). Accurate and cost-effective measurement of biological agricultural emissions is a non-negotiable requirement for the successful delivery of the ERP goals. https://environment.govt.nz/publications/aotearoa-new-zealands-first-emissions-reduction-plan/agriculture/

Budget 2022 allocated $338.7 million over four years to strengthen the role of research and development in getting new tools and technology to reduce on-farm emissions to farmers quicker. This included the provision for investment in infrastructure that would expand the capacity and support for industry and government research and development activities, particularly, financial support to purchase and install new specialist equipment and facilities, support ongoing operational costs, and recruit and train personnel to operate and maintain the equipment and services.

A National Infrastructure Plan is required to prioritise domestic infrastructure investments that will advance the search for the effective mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, including (but not limited to) methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide from soils.

Objective:
To procure the development of a National Infrastructure Plan to accelerate agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation solutions. The Plan will outline and assess the current infrastructure situation, assess future needs and provide options and recommendations for meeting anticipated needs. The Plan should outline realistic timeframes for deployment of new equipment, assess what additional personnel will be needed to run and maintain the infrastructure and provide recommendations on how to ensure that equipment is well maintained and serviced over its lifetime, while minimising costs to users and achieving high utilisation rates and broad accessibility.