Fonterra Commits NZ$31 Million to AgriZeroNZ as Methane Tools Move Toward 2030

Fonterra is committing NZ$31 million over three years to the next phase of AgriZeroNZ, the New Zealand public-private partnership developing technologies intended to reduce on-farm greenhouse-gas emissions without sacrificing productivity or profitability.

AgriZeroNZ brings together the New Zealand Government with agribusinesses including Fonterra, Synlait, the a2 Milk Company, Silver Fern Farms, ANZCO, Ravensdown, Alliance, Farmlands and major banks.

More than 20 ventures, trials and research programs are already in the portfolio

Since the partnership was established in 2023, funding has been committed across more than 20 ventures, research projects and trials. The stated goal is to have a range of emissions-reduction tools available to New Zealand farmers by 2030.

The portfolio approach reflects the challenge of biogenic methane in pastoral livestock systems. Different tools can target feed, animal biology, genetics, manure or farm management, and not every technology will fit every production system.

The investment is also about market access

New Zealand’s dairy and meat exporters face growing emissions targets from global customers and supply chains. Technologies that reduce methane without materially reducing milk or meat output could therefore become both an environmental tool and a competitive trade asset.

The NZ$31 million commitment does not establish that any single methane technology is commercially proven. The key test over the next phase will be whether portfolio companies and research programs can move from trials into practical products that farmers can afford, use at scale and verify.