1 Applying International Policy Lessons for Sustainable Agriculture in New Zealand Misty Skinner

2 Summary Background Background Types of instruments Types of instruments Regulation Regulation National strategies National strategies Incentive payments and subsidies Incentive payments and subsidies Taxes and charges Taxes and charges Conclusions Conclusions Tradeable rights Community-based approaches Voluntary targets Extension and education

3 Background NZ has a strong dependence on natural resource base for producing export goods NZ has a strong dependence on natural resource base for producing export goods Sustainability of land-based primary production important to the economy and society as well as the environment Sustainability of land-based primary production important to the economy and society as well as the environment NZ can learn from international experiences with sustainable agriculture policy NZ can learn from international experiences with sustainable agriculture policy

4 Regulation Widely used Widely used Can be used by most levels of government Can be used by most levels of government Useful where markets are inefficient Useful where markets are inefficient Provides certainty Provides certainty Can encourage innovation Can encourage innovation NZ Resource Management Act 1991 NZ Resource Management Act 1991

5 Strategies National strategies National strategies Bring together work strands Bring together work strands Provide a statement about policy direction Provide a statement about policy direction Provide consistency between industries Provide consistency between industries Partnerships with industry groups Partnerships with industry groups Industry strategies Industry strategies Differences between industry groups Differences between industry groups Diversity within industry groups Diversity within industry groups

6 Incentive payments and subsidies Production-linked subsidies can encourage environmental harm Production-linked subsidies can encourage environmental harm Compliance conditions can reduce environmental harm Compliance conditions can reduce environmental harm Not used in New Zealand Not used in New Zealand

7 Taxes and charges Theoretically more flexible and cost-effective than regulation Theoretically more flexible and cost-effective than regulation Used to support the Polluter Pays Principle Used to support the Polluter Pays Principle Provides price signals that may: Provides price signals that may: Guide production decisions Guide production decisions Create a financial incentive to reduce environmental harm Create a financial incentive to reduce environmental harm

8 Tradeable rights Often local or regional Often local or regional Define acceptable level of pollution Define acceptable level of pollution Rights are allocated – various methods Rights are allocated – various methods Trading in a market environment Trading in a market environment New Zealand proposal – Lake Taupo New Zealand proposal – Lake Taupo

9 Community-based approaches Local solutions to local problems Local solutions to local problems Build social capacity for behaviour change Build social capacity for behaviour change Example – Landcare groups Example – Landcare groups Facilitate co-operation and dialogue Facilitate co-operation and dialogue Can improve uptake of new technologies and practices Can improve uptake of new technologies and practices

10 Voluntary approaches Provide flexibility for industry Provide flexibility for industry Reduce potential compliance costs of regulation Reduce potential compliance costs of regulation Certainty of outcomes can be variable Certainty of outcomes can be variable Targets and codes of practice now common Targets and codes of practice now common

11 Extension and education Communicate research outcomes in a meaningful way Communicate research outcomes in a meaningful way Need capacity to understand and use information Need capacity to understand and use information Provided by many different types of organisation Provided by many different types of organisation Awards can also help promote good practice Awards can also help promote good practice

12 Conclusions Different instruments useful in different situations Different instruments useful in different situations NZ already using many of the tools used overseas NZ already using many of the tools used overseas NZ currently favours a voluntary and community-based approach to behaviour change NZ currently favours a voluntary and community-based approach to behaviour change Regulation will always be a necessary backstop Regulation will always be a necessary backstop National strategy could provide consistency National strategy could provide consistency