Climate-friendly agriculture: cooperation with New Zealand intensified
New Zealand and Germany will engage in closer cooperation in the future to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. To this end, Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir and his counterpart from New Zealand, Damien O’Connor, signed a Joint Declaration of Intent. The goal of the partnership is to intensify the existing cooperation in the field of agriculture and develop solutions for the global climate impact of agricultural production systems.
The focus lies on strategies and technologies aimed at reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions. The aim is to intensify technical exchanges and initiate joint research activities and exchanges between experts.
Federal Minister Cem Özdemir comments: "The climate crisis does not stop at borders, which is why we always need to consider climate stewardship as a global issue. Together with our key partner New Zealand, we are working on reducing emissions in agriculture. Farmers in both our countries are going to benefit from this cooperation and from the mutual exchange of knowledge and experience. In addition, we would like to make solutions available on how climate change mitigation and food security can work, in particular for countries of the global south."
This new partnership builds upon the existing cooperation within the framework of a research alliance on climate change mitigation in agriculture, launched by New Zealand in 2009, the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA). The relations between Germany and New Zealand are based on shared interests and values. The two countries are often like-minded states with regard to international affairs, trade, academia and cultural exchanges, and underpin their good relations through high-level visits. Germany is New Zealand's most important trading partner within the EU. New Zealand’s most important export goods to Germany are agricultural and forestry products, in particular sheep and game meat, fruit, dairy products as well as wool. New Zealand mainly imports vehicles, machinery and pharmaceutical products from Germany.