RadioNZ: Scientists look at new plants to reduce emissions

One of the 18 science programmes to receive funding last year from the Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Centre will look at whether farmers can reduce agricultural emissions by growing pasture plants which are high yield, but low nitrogen.

The research will be undertaken by AgResearch, one of New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“The centre’s director, Dr Harry Clark, says the AgResearch project is a new line of research.

“He says reducing the nitrogen in pasture plants without compromising productivity is theoretically possible, through genetic modification, but he stresses it’s at a very early, exploratory stage.

“Dr Clark says low-nitrogen plants would also address the problem of leaching of nitrogen into waterways.”