![\"Ravensdown](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2020\/03\/349d0c5c-02a6543-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"Ravensdown")
\u201cThis summer kiwi families have been encountering slime-choked rivers at their favourite swimming spots,\u201d says Greenpeace campaigner, Gen Toop. \u201cToday we decided to give Ravensdown a taste of their own medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Ravensdown\u2019s synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is used all over the country to intensify dairying operations, growing more grass in order to farm more cows. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cNitrates from synthetic fertiliser and cow urine, create slimy algal blooms, suck the life out of waterways and threaten the safety of our drinking water,\u201d says Toop.<\/p>\n\n
Use of synthetic fertiliser has increased 627% since 1990 and in that time the dairy herd has more than doubled. <\/p>\n\n
New Zealand has had the highest percentage increase in synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in the developed world. There are currently no restrictions on the amount that can be used.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThe Government urgently needs to restrict synthetic fertiliser,<\/a> before it destroys more New Zealand waterways. The clock is ticking on this environmental crisis,\u201d says Toop. <\/p>\n\n New freshwater rules<\/a> are being finalised by the Ardern Government over the next couple of months.<\/p>\n\n \u201dIt\u2019s time for the Prime Minister to make good on her promises to clean up our rivers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n \u201cJacinda Ardern must put a cap on synthetic fertiliser as part of the freshwater plan. It\u2019s absolutely key. Without tackling synthetic fertiliser there\u2019s no way of getting the slime out of our rivers,\u201d warns Toop.<\/p>\n\n Synthetic fertiliser also drives climate change. It supports intensive dairying which creates methane and nitrous oxide emissions. The dairy industry is the country\u2019s single largest climate polluter.<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace is asking the Government to commit to a billion dollar fund to help farmers transition to more ecological ways of production without harmful chemicals like synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.<\/p>\n\n \u201cWe need the Government to help put New Zealand agriculture on the path to higher-value and more profitable food production through regenerative farming, working with the environment, not against it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n \u201cRegenerative agriculture<\/a> is better for our rivers, better for our climate, better for our economic future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n The petition calling for a ban on Synthetic Nitrogen Fertiliser<\/a> to save our rivers has been signed by more than 20,000 people so far.<\/p>\n\n The green gunge recipe is:![\""We](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2020\/02\/936837e0-jacinda-billboards-1024x768.jpg\" "\\"\"We")
<\/strong>– 1 tbsp psyllium husk
– 500mls of water
– a pinch of spirulina powder<\/p>\n\n