Greenpeace is calling on John Key to stop the imports of palm
kernel animal feed into New Zealand and on the Indonesian
Government to implement an immediate moratorium on forest and
peatland destruction for the sake of climate stability,
biodiversity and to protect indigenous people's land rights.
Senior Federated Farmers Grain and Seed chairman Ian Morten (an
equity partner of a 1,600 herd dairy farm) stated in yesterday's
Dairy News: "I think the use of PKE seriously threatens Fonterra's
credibility as a supplier of a clean, green type product. Why risk
the value of your brands for it? Why risk the rest of New Zealand
agriculture for it?"
The paper also stated that the Feds' Grains section is taking
its concerns to Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister David
Carter.
"It is clear that important members of Federated Farmers have
grasped the bigger ramifications posed to New Zealand's clean,
green reputation through Fonterra's involvement and promotion of
unsustainable palm kernel animal feed."
An expose two weeks ago in the Sunday Star Times implicated
Fonterra in rainforest destruction.
"Fonterra seems to think that it's okay to profit from illegal
and immoral rainforest destruction. This speaks volumes about
Fonterra's lack of corporate values and its disregard for our clean
green brand," said Greenpeace New Zealand's Senior Climate
Campaigner Simon Boxer.
"PKE is a nasty product every step of the way. Millions of
hectares of Indonesian and Malaysian rainforest are being destroyed
to grow palm, releasing vast quantities of greenhouse gases in the
process. Huge amounts of palm based feed are being used as a
supplementary feed for New Zealand's increasing intensive dairy
sector," said Boxer.
Most of the PKE that comes into New Zealand will be used by
Fonterra's dairy farmers, who are shareholders in the cooperative.
Fonterra also has direct links with the PKE supply chain through
its half-owned subsidiary RD1. RD1 has a joint venture to import
PKE with Wilmar International, one of the world's worst rainforest
destroyers.
Last year New Zealand imported 1.1 million tonnes of PKE, one
quarter of the world's production, at a cost of around $317
million. (1)
Other contacts: Simon Boxer, Greenpeace New Zealand Senior Climate Campaigner 021 905 579
Phil Crawford, Greenpeace New Zealand communications and media 021 229 9594
Notes: (1) Statistics New Zealand Palm Kernel Expeller imports and costs
Exp. contact date: 2009-10-09 00:00:00