Nature is fundamental to how we farm. Healthy soils, reliable rainfall, clean water and a temperate climate all underpin our pasture-based way of farming.
It’s our ambition to contribute to a nature positive1 future which means both reducing our impact and helping to regenerate ecosystems and the natural environment we depend on. We're focusing on the three natural resources which are vital to our Co-operative - land, water and biodiversity. We recognise these are interconnected, where taking action on one can have positive co-benefits across others.
Our Co-operative and farmer shareholders are one of the largest landowners in New Zealand
24 New Zealand manufacturing sites
Over 1,289,000ha of farmland
Land
Our landscapes are diverse stretching from coastal regions through to alpine mountains. We have GIS mapping of all our farmer shareholder farms, including waterways, vegetation and topography, giving us a clear picture of the environments in which farms operate. We also have one of the biggest manufacturing footprints in New Zealand with 24 sites. We work within the limits of the environment by following local regulations and permit requirements, and engage with local Iwi and communities to help understand how we can contribute to the health of the local environment.
Water
New Zealand is a country with plentiful rainfall. Water is an important resource that plays a significant part in the way we farm and how we operate our manufacturing sites. Farm Environment Plans record waterways identified through the on-farm risk assessment process. Actions taken by Fonterra farmers may include fencing waterways to exclude stock and undertaking riparian planting to help create buffer zones between land and water. Because waterways and wetlands can flow into, through and beyond farm boundaries and manufacturing sites, we continue to collaborate with farmers, local governments and communities to make positive change to our water quality.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity reaches across both land and water, and enhancing it can encourage a more resilient and sustainable farming system. New Zealand’s native biodiversity is uniquely rich, with many of our native species not found anywhere else in the world. While our remoteness has helped protect and preserve our natural environment, our on-farm practices and manufacturing operations can also play an important role.
Supporting thriving land and waterways
Over 40,000km of waterways fenced*
*As mapped by the Sustainable Dairy Advisor Team during FEP development (data as at June 2023).
Over 2,000ha of riparian land planted*
What we’re doing about nitrates
Fonterra farmers live and raise their families in the communities where they farm, and care about the health of local waterways. From good on farm practices through to investing in wastewater treatment upgrades at our manufacturing sites, we’re working to reduce the impact our activities can have on nitrate levels in water and are confident our actions will lead to further improvements over time. While there is always more work to do, the infographic below outlines some of the actions we're taking.
1A global societal goal defined as to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 on a 2020 baseline and achieve full recovery by 2050. To put this more simply, it means ensuring more nature in the world in 2030 than in 2020 and continued recovery after that. Find out more about the Nature Positive Initiative here.