Crying Over Spilt Milk: A Critical Assessment of the Ecological Modernization of New Zealand's Dairy Industry

Abstract

Ecological modernisation theory holds that capitalist economic structures can be transformed to avoid long-term environmental damage, through the introduction of modern environmental technologies and reforming modern institutions. Empirical evidence, drawing on ecological modernisation practices in some European and North American contexts, lends support to this view. However, it is not clear yet whether the practices of ecological modernisation can be applied with equal success to agricultural industries, based on farmers as multiple producers. The New Zealand dairy industry faces political and commercial pressure to improve its environmental performance while maintaining commercial competitiveness in a global marketplace. In response to such pressures, the industry"s main umbrella organisation (Fonterra) has taken steps to improve the environmental management practices of the farmers who supply milk. The New Zealand dairy industry offers an example from which to assess the relevance of economical modernisation theory, as it applies to a large, technologically sophisticated, environmentally motivated company, representing the production practices of more than 11,000 dairy milk suppliers.

Neoliberal natures on the farm: Farmer autonomy and cooperation in comparative perspective

“…The shift to dairy has also undermined the anticipated positive environmental outcomes of ecological modernization in New Zealand (Jay and Morad, 2007). The shift to dairy has put some former sheep farmers into the uneasy position of having to increase their negative environmental outcomes by increasing the amount of effluent into the catchment/watershed, as compared to their sheep operations.…”

“…The merger of the two most prominent dairy cooperatives (Kiwi Dairies and the New Zealand Dairy Group) with the New Zealand Dairy Board into the giant dairy cooperative, Fonterra, in 2001 signalled a dramatic cultural and economic shift away from meat and wool production while creating the largest milk exporter in the world, producing roughly 7% of the country's GDP Gray andLe Heron, 2010). Along with the shift from sheep and beef to dairy (with related intensification processes) there has also been a dramatic increase in ecological pressure on New Zealand from agriculture as result of has greatly reduced the water quality of the country's rivers and streams (Jay and Morad, 2007).…”

Estimating values of environmental impacts of dairy farming in New Zealand

“…The dairy sector strives to maintain international competitiveness by continued increases in productivity and intensification in the use of inputs. Exclusionary trade practices by North American and European countries, and the high proportions of exports which go to middle and low income countries, mean that the dairy sector is constrained to maintain a strategy of low-cost production (Jay & Morad 2007). The intensification of production is part of this strategy which leads to unsustainable agricultural activities and contributes to the degradation of several ecosystem services (ES) such as clean air and water.…”

“…A major problem for New Zealand society is how to weigh the economic benefits (and the lifestyle implications) of increased intensification of dairy production against the costs of environmental degradation. environmental costs tend to be regionally localised, and many of the environmental costs remain subtle, complex, long-term, and hard to quantify (Jay & morad 2007).…”

“…The environmental consequences of dairying include pollution of surface and groundwater; destruction of wetland and native lowland forest for farm development; indirect damage to freshwater and estuarine habitat through contamination and nutrient pollution of surface and groundwater; loss of native biodiversity (through damage or destruction of native habitat); soil erosion, soil contamination, and damage to soil structure; and discharge of greenhouse gases (PCe 2004;Clark et al 2007;Collins et al 2007;Jay & morad 2007;mfe 2007;monaghan et al 2007;Flemmer & Flemmer 2008;moller et al 2008). as a result, the New Zealand dairy industry receives widespread public criticism of its environmental impacts.…”