Keith Woodford

About

Keith Woodford is an independent consultant who holds honorary positions as Professor of Agri-Food Systems at Lincoln University and Senior Research Fellow at the Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University. His archived writings are available at http://keithwoodford.wordpress.com

Member for

11 years 7 months

Latest articles

Fonterra takes u-turn on consumer products

Keith Woodford asks whether Fonterra’s proposed structural u-turn will be its final move away from consumer brands and the associated value-add

21st May 24, 2:08pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford asks whether Fonterra’s proposed structural u-turn will be its final move away from consumer brands and the associated value-add

The national A2 milk herd is rapidly becoming dominant

The dairy industry needs a strategic A2 policy

Keith Woodford reveals a rather remarkable transition underway where A2 beta-casein milk from 2024-born calves will exceed 85%. He calls for a full-industry review of how we can benefit from the unique advantage that gives our dairy sector

14th May 24, 10:29am

by Keith Woodford

Bird flu presents lots of uncertainty for both animals and humans

Keith Woodford notes bird flu has been evolving rapidly with unknown consequences. It's now worldwide except for New Zealand and Australia

24th Apr 24, 2:38pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford notes bird flu has been evolving rapidly with unknown consequences. It's now worldwide except for New Zealand and Australia

Farm forestry options in a world of imponderables

Keith Woodford observes carbon credits lie at the heart of forestry, sheep and beef economics, but it is not a simple story

22nd Apr 24, 10:21am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford observes carbon credits lie at the heart of forestry, sheep and beef economics, but it is not a simple story

Synlait battles for survival

Keith Woodford says Synlait cannot survive without major asset sales plus major new equity

2nd Apr 24, 7:06pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says Synlait cannot survive without major asset sales plus major new equity

Can kiwifruit help fill the gap?

Keith Woodford says New Zealand has an unbalanced economy and desperately needs more exports. Kiwifruit is one of the few industries with potential to help fill the gap

21st Mar 24, 8:09am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says New Zealand has an unbalanced economy and desperately needs more exports. Kiwifruit is one of the few industries with potential to help fill the gap

The A2 milk journey is just beginning

Keith Woodford provides an update on A2 milk, noting good science always wins out in the long run, but this can require a long journey with many twists and turns

6th Mar 24, 10:56am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford provides an update on A2 milk, noting good science always wins out in the long run, but this can require a long journey with many twists and turns

Where does Synlait’s future lie?

Keith Woodford says Synlait is in big trouble with losses mounting up and no easy answers

20th Feb 24, 9:44am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says Synlait is in big trouble with losses mounting up and no easy answers

Methane’s path to the future

Keith Woodford says taxing methane is not the answer. But we cannot walk away from the need to reduce methane-intensity in rural products

8th Feb 24, 11:02am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says taxing methane is not the answer. But we cannot walk away from the need to reduce methane-intensity in rural products

Finding firm ground for the methane debate

Keith Woodford says dividing up methane liabilities requires judgements as to who should bear the burden

23rd Jan 24, 4:09pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says dividing up methane liabilities requires judgements as to who should bear the burden

How should methane emissions be calculated?

Calculating methane emissions requires a mix of science and value judgements, writes Keith Woodford

16th Jan 24, 9:07am

by Keith Woodford

Calculating methane emissions requires a mix of science and value judgements, writes Keith Woodford

Carbon farming needs long-term rules

Stopping the ETS review solves one carbon-forestry issue for the meantime, but also brings other carbon-forestry issues to the fore

5th Dec 23, 6:28pm

by Keith Woodford

Stopping the ETS review solves one carbon-forestry issue for the meantime, but also brings other carbon-forestry issues to the fore

Big carbon farming decisions lie ahead

Carbon farming presents both opportunities and threats, with lots of uncertainty, and big decisions needed by new government to resolve current predicament

22nd Nov 23, 2:03pm

by Keith Woodford

Carbon farming presents both opportunities and threats, with lots of uncertainty, and big decisions needed by new government to resolve current predicament

Sequestration rules will change

Government foreshadows new ETS sequestration categories but then creates yet another communication muddle

10th Dec 22, 9:49am

by Keith Woodford

Government foreshadows new ETS sequestration categories but then creates yet another communication muddle

Moving forward on methane levies

Split-gas breaks the link to charging methane emissions based on contentious carbon dioxide equivalence. It opens the door to a levy based on research, development, extension and education (RDE&E) needs rather than simply a tax

30th Nov 22, 6:03pm

by Keith Woodford

Agricultural GHG bullets are firing randomly

Flawed Government messaging creates further heat in the agricultural GHG debate. There is lots of work still to be done

9th Nov 22, 9:58am

by Keith Woodford

Flawed Government messaging creates further heat in the agricultural GHG debate. There is lots of work still to be done

Key methane technologies misfire

Methane technology breakthroughs cannot stop ruminants from doing what comes naturally

27th Oct 22, 7:25am

by Keith Woodford

Methane technology breakthroughs cannot stop ruminants from doing what comes naturally

Simon Upton, methane and forestry offsets

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton says there are good reasons to allow forestry offsets for methane rather than for fossil fuels

10th Oct 22, 1:21pm

by Keith Woodford

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton says there are good reasons to allow forestry offsets for methane rather than for fossil fuels

Voluntary sequestration schemes create opportunities as well as confusion

Native forests that began regenerating prior to 1990 are excluded from the ETS. This opens opportunities for voluntary schemes independent of Government

28th Sep 22, 1:29pm

by Keith Woodford

Native forests that began regenerating prior to 1990 are excluded from the ETS. This opens opportunities for voluntary schemes independent of Government

Carbon offsets are not created equal

[updated]

Carbon offsets are a mix, some official and others unofficial, and certified to different rules. This creates confusion in the market place

13th Sep 22, 1:20pm

by Keith Woodford

Carbon offsets are a mix, some official and others unofficial, and certified to different rules. This creates confusion in the market place

Dairy is fundamental to New Zealand’s future

Keith Woodford says there is need for a much better-informed debate about the future of dairy

31st Aug 22, 8:38am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says there is need for a much better-informed debate about the future of dairy

The carbon farming rocket has taken off

Nothing matches carbon-farming economics on sheep and beef land

16th Aug 22, 8:53am

by Keith Woodford

Nothing matches carbon-farming economics on sheep and beef land

Mega changes announced to forestry and carbon policies

Long-term exotic forests will now to be allowed in the ETS and carbon price is on the rise again

3rd Aug 22, 9:57am

by Keith Woodford

Long-term exotic forests will now to be allowed in the ETS and carbon price is on the rise again

Climate Change Commission pours reality on HWEN proposals

Industry groups now need to decide how to manage the HWEN stand-off with the risk of being left outside the tent

20th Jul 22, 12:45pm

by Keith Woodford

Industry groups now need to decide how to manage the HWEN stand-off with the risk of being left outside the tent

Wrestling with methane metrics

The methane debate is more about politics, policy and value judgements than it is about science

29th Jun 22, 11:41am

by Keith Woodford

The methane debate is more about politics, policy and value judgements than it is about science