Millions more dairy cows by 2035?
Related Rivers
Heavy Industry Energy Demand Update Report
The Ministry for Economic Development has produced its latest Heavy Industry Energy Demand Update Report.
Amongst other things, it predicts a 50% increase in dairy production between now and 2035. This will increase demand for electricity, and the demand for irrigation by the same, unless we change the way we think. 50% more demand for hydro dams and irrigation water storage is disaster for our wild rivers. But it is also disaster for our water quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
Is increasing dairy production 50% - that's a lot more dairy cattle - really sustainable on any environmental measure, even if all productivity, efficiency, co-generation and best practice models are applied?
