About the GHGIR Fund

The GHGIR Fund aims to improve the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use.

It supports the Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which compiles and calculates greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in New Zealand. This inventory reports to the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the United Nations under the Paris Climate Agreement.

The fund also supports the development of land-use projections, including afforestation and deforestation. These projections show how carbon accounting rules lead to changes in land use.

The GHGIR Fund was established in the early 2000s and was independently reviewed in 2020. Some changes have been made as a result, with more changes to come.

Independent review of GHGIR Fund [PDF, 436 KB]

Aims of the GHGIR Fund

The GHGIR Fund supports research to improve:

• the Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Inventory
• reporting of emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use.

This research helps us make policy decisions. It also helps the agriculture and forestry sectors manage their greenhouse gas emissions.

The research includes work to:

• review and update how we calculate emissions from items in the inventory
• calculate emissions from items that aren't in the inventory
• account for new forms of mitigation
• support policymakers
• help the agriculture and forestry sectors manage their greenhouse gas emissions.

The GHGIR Fund has annual funding of $1.7 million. Some of this is committed to existing projects, and $450,000 is available for new projects in the 2020/21 financial year. Over $1.4 million is available for new projects in subsequent years.

Find out about greenhouse gas reporting

Types of research funded

The fund supports research across 7 priorities:

• data
• modelling
• nitrous oxide
• sequestration
• reviews and updates of existing inventory items
• projections and targets
• policy-driven research.

Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research Fund 2020 priorities [PDF, 503 KB]

How to apply for GHGIR funding

Applications for 2021 open in early-mid 2021.

To request an application form for the GHGIR Fund, email funding@mpi.govt.nz

Applications are assessed by a panel of government and industry experts. Final decisions are made by the Ministry for Primary Industries. All applicants are told whether they were successful after the panel meeting. Successful applicants can then finalise their project milestones and sign GHGIR funding contracts.

Projects can begin once the contract is signed.

Eligibility criteria for GHGIR projects

Projects must:

• be aligned with at least 1 of the priorities listed above under "types of research funded"
• not duplicate work from other government-funded projects.

How we assess applications

Applications are assessed against 7 criteria to determine how well they qualify and how much they may receive. These criteria are:

• alignment to the emissions reporting needs of agriculture, forestry, and other land uses
• value for money
• ability to deliver outcomes
• alignment to research priorities
• impact
• practicality
• science excellence.

We encourage collaboration between multiple research organisations.

What to include in your application

Applications should:

• clearly describe the scientific methodology of the proposed work
• consider key risks
• identify the project's benefits and outcomes, and describe how these will be measured
• describe how the project will be successfully delivered
• consider Māori aspirations and opportunities, where applicable
• include a realistic and appropriate budget (with a breakdown including milestones, and the budget for each stage of the work)
• include a well-considered project plan.

To assess your application, we need robust information and as much evidence as possible.

Examples of GHGIR research

GHGIR has funded over 80 projects since the early 2000s. The majority of these have been related to agriculture, although nearly 30 have focused on forestry.

List of reports from some previous GHGIR projects

Who to contact

If you have questions about the GHGIR Fund, email funding@mpi.govt.nz