The reduction of nitrate leaching through the soil under an intensive livestock operation is important if farmers want to keep farming in a sustainable manner.
Nitrification inhibitors developed by Lincoln University when sprayed on the farm, not only improves the pasture yield, but allows nitrogen fertiliser and livestock emissions to be fully utilised by the soil.
As has been common with NZ's agricultural co-operatives, a dispute has arisen between the two companies over the right of one to patent this technology's use.
Let's hope the court system makes a quick decision, so this product can be used by all farmers to the benefit of production and the environment.
Fertiliser giants Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Ravensdown are locked in a legal battle in the High Court over an attempt to patent the delivery method of a product which could play a vital role in making NZ farming more eco-friendly.
The case in the High Court at Auckland centres on Ballance's objection to Ravensdown plans to patent the delivery method of nitrification inhibitors reports The NZ Herald. Ballance claims it will give Ravensdown a monopoly and hinder its own 18,000 farmer shareholders.
Ravensdown general manager Richard Christie said the company wanted to patent the technology, the method of delivery, so that it could protect its intellectual property because no other company had developed such a method that was effective in reducing nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions.
The technology, developed by Lincoln University, delivers the nitrification inhibitor by spraying or irrigating grazing pasture.
Christie said Ravensdown's method of delivering the nitrification inhibitor would improve pastures and therefore farmers' yields while providing greater sustainability to the industry. Ravensdown says the method will also reduce potassium, calcium and magnesium leaching.
Ballance head of research and environment Warwick Catto said Ravensdown was trying to patent an invention that had been around for ages. "It will have a significant economic impact. It will reduce competition and prices increase when a monopoly is introduced."
Court documents said NZ's nitrous oxide emissions from animal excreta, mainly urine, account for 50 per cent of the country's nitrous oxide emissions, which make up 20 per cent of NZ's total greenhouse gas emissions.
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