11 February, 2011

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) yesterday announced a proactive strategy to manage the gradual cadmium build-up in New Zealand’s agricultural soils.

MAF’s Director of Natural Resources Policy, Mike Jebson says cadmium is a naturally occurring element, present in phosphate rock from which phosphate fertiliser is made. It tends to accumulate slowly in soils where there is regular use of this fertiliser.

“Concentrations are relatively low in New Zealand’s productive soils but monitoring indicates that levels have slowly increased, from decade to decade.

“Excessive levels of cadmium in soils can restrict land use flexibility and increases the risks from cadmium entering the food chain, which can have implications for human health.

The Cadmium Management Strategy is a best practice approach to ensure that cadmium in rural soils remains a minimal risk to health, trade, land use flexibility and the environment over the next 100 years, while supporting the ongoing economic contribution of the primary sector.

It was presented yesterday to industry at the annual Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre Workshop, at Massey University.

“MAF’s food safety experts have estimated that the amount of cadmium in the diet of the average New Zealander is at a level far below that which would cause adverse health effects. Likewise, the amount of cadmium in products produced in and exported from New Zealand presents no risk to human health,” says Mr Jebson.

“While cadmium levels in soils present no risk to New Zealanders, the Cadmium Management Strategy will ensure that levels in soil and food are monitored and managed, so the situation stays that way.

“The strategy recommends that farmers and growers work closely with their fertiliser representatives to determine the most cost effective, efficient and appropriate fertiliser application and land management options,” he says.

The Strategy was developed by the Cadmium Working Group (CWG), a group established in 2006 of representatives from industry, food safety, environment, regional councils and local communities to assess any potential risks of cadmium in New Zealand’s agricultural and food systems.

The CWG identified the need for a measured and strategic approach to prevent cadmium accumulation in soil becoming a future hazard and have produced three reports to date, including the management strategy which outlines a combination of governance, research, monitoring and management activity for food, soils and fertiliser.

ENDS

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