Media Statement
Thursday, 17 December 2009

Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Dunne: Farming sector should match Govt research alliance funding

UnitedFuture leader and Ohariu MP Peter Dunne has called on the farming sector to match the Government's financial commitment to the Global Research Alliance.

"The Global Research Alliance is a major victory for New Zealand and will provide some certainty of funding for a significant number of our scientists,” Mr Dunne said.

“However, $150 million will not go far in addressing the massive challenge of mitigating methane emissions from ruminant animals."

"As the New Zealand taxpayer is already committed to spending $45 million on the project, it is only fair that the agricultural sector at least matches that commitment."

"With an emissions profile heavily weighted towards agriculture, it is crucial that New Zealand remains at the cutting edge of what is possibly the most important research initiative in the fight against global warming."

"Ideally the agricultural sector in the other countries involved will also step up to the mark and invest heavily in this research,” he said.

"The aspiration for this Government must be to increase overall funding of basic scientific research to at least the OECD average. Failure to do so in this increasingly technology driven world will result in New Zealand falling further behind Australia and our other competitors,"Mr Dunne said.

ENDS

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