2 Jun 2009

$5m for greenhouse gas research

12:36 pm on 2 June 2009

The Government is setting up a greenhouse gas research centre to find ways to curb agricultural and horticultural emissions.

The announcement, which was part of a post-Budget advisory speech, was made during the Agriculture Minister David Carter's address to the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce.

The Centre for Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research will be based at either a Crown Research Institute or a University.

It receive $5 million per year through the Government's new Primary Growth Partnership, announced in last week's Budget.

The centre will also be able to apply for contestable funding through that partnership.

Agriculture Minister David Carter says the new centre will help the country meet its commitments laid out under the Kyoto Protocol.

Under the new Primary Growth Partnership, the Government expects industry to make matching contributions, which will start at $30 million this year and grow to $70 million in four years' time.