Global Research Alliance: New Zealand Page
Globally, around 14% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from agricultural activities; in New Zealand, the figure is nearly 50% (see inventory). Our emissions profile and our well-established scientific research programmes to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from temperate pastoral livestock systems have made New Zealand a key contributor to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).
New Zealand is proud to be a founding member of the GRA. In 2020, the New Zealand Government provided additional funding of $34 million over 4 years contributing to New Zealand’s continued leadership, participation and investment in the GRA. Currently New Zealand contributes to the GRA by:
1. Hosting the GRA Secretariat which organises the events, runs this website and provides technical and policy support to members. Also, funding the Special Representative who acts as an ambassador for the GRA, lifting its profile, securing funding, and broadening links with other organisations.
2. Accelerating Global Research through international research projects targeting methane, soil carbon, and nitrous oxide, as well as whole farm systems projects (See all projects here). New Zealand also has shared research programmes with Ireland (NZ-Ireland Calls), Germany (AGRIDENZ), and a long running partnership with the Latin America Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology (FONTAGRO).
3. Building international capability to help developing countries improve their ability to understand, measure and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from pastoral livestock agriculture, drawing on New Zealand’s extensive experience and expertise in this area. Highlights include regional capability projects like the NZCSA; and funding the CLIFF-GRADS scholarships. Previous scholarships include RUFORUM, NZ-GRADS, LEARN and GRASS awards.
4. Engaging in the research groups including co-chairing the Livestock Research Group alongside Ireland and UK; co-chairing the Indigenous Research Network alongside Samoa; participating in the Crop and Land Use Research Group; and particularly active in the Inventories and NDC Network.
New Zealand GRA Team
New Zealand is represented in the GRA by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), working closely with the environment and climate change groups from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Ministry for the Environment (MfE). The New Zealand Ag Emissions Centre leads the Livestock Research Group and supports New Zealand’s involvement in GRA research activities.
New Zealand’s involvement with the GRA provides opportunities for its scientists to collaborate with renowned institutes and researchers from around the world, and to share knowledge and expertise with the global science community. See the MPI website for more on what the GRA means for New Zealand: Global Research Alliance (GRA) | NZ Government.